The AI Cookbook with Malcolm Werchota

E23: The AI Energy Paradox: Why Your ChatGPT Habit Won't Kill the Planet


Listen Later

In this episode, Malcolm Werchota destroys the viral myth that "one year of ChatGPT equals 15 minutes of driving" using OpenAI's official 0.34 watt-hours per query data—revealing the claim is off by a factor of 365.

He exposes how Microsoft paid $1.6 billion to restart Three Mile Island for AI, China is building 28 new nuclear reactors while Germany sits at zero capacity.

Drawing from his 10 years in oil & gas witnessing real environmental destruction, Malcolm shows how the US races toward nuclear AI infrastructure, China executes massive state-planned green migration, and Europe debates while competitors build decisive advantages.

Top 5 Insights:

  1. Scale Reality: One ChatGPT query = 2 minutes LED bulb usage, not 15 minutes of driving
  2. Nuclear Renaissance: US/China aggressively expand nuclear for AI; Germany imports what it refuses to build
  3. Environmental Paradox: People think AI destroys the environment—it can save it

#AIEnergy #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #NuclearRenaissance #DigitalTransformation #ClimateReality #AIAdoption #EuropeanCompetitiveness

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The AI Cookbook with Malcolm WerchotaBy Malcolm Werchota