The first lever is targeted use: reserving AI for high-value tasks rather than using it by default (for example, to answer questions that an FAQ already covers). Next come smaller models, where the task allows it (5 to 10 times less energy than a frontier model on simple tasks), and hosting in France or Scandinavia, which can cut emissions by up to a factor of 5 to 10 compared with a US data centre powered by gas. Within a company's digital carbon footprint, extending the lifespan of equipment from 4 to 6 years matters more: the annualised manufacturing footprint falls by about 33%.
Read the source article: ChatGPT carbon footprint: what it means for your company