AI tool ChatGPT introduces emission reduction measure through shorter responses

AI tool ChatGPT introduces emission reduction measure through shorter responses

The Earth Public Information Collaborative (EPIC) has launched a groundbreaking tool called PromptZero, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of generative AI models like ChatGPT-4. This innovative AI prompt activates a "low-emission mode," instructing the AI to produce brief, efficient responses without losing clarity, thus lowering computational demand and associated energy use.

According to EPIC, every word saved using PromptZero is a little bit of CO2 avoided. By trimming long, detailed replies and filler content, PromptZero reduces the computational resources needed to generate answers, resulting in an approximate 20% decrease in carbon emissions per AI query compared to typical outputs.

Data centres, cryptocurrency mining, and data transmission infrastructure collectively accounted for about 2% of global electricity demand in 2022, a figure that is expected to rise. These systems can also assist in real-time emergency coordination, resource deployment, and public communications. However, their energy consumption is a growing concern, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) projecting that electricity use by data centres and AI systems will more than double, from 260 terawatt-hours in 2024 to 500 terawatt-hours by 2027.

The IEA's findings suggest that the environmental toll of AI is a growing concern, and tools like PromptZero, which aim to reduce AI's energy consumption, may play a significant role in addressing this issue. For instance, a single ChatGPT-4 query consumes 2.9 watt-hours (Wh) of power, which is up to 10 times more electricity than a Google search.

PromptZero works by including a simple, copy-paste instruction in AI prompts that activates a low-emission mode. The prompt also estimates the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) avoided after each response. Leonard Lee, director of IPUR, stated that AI, with its ability to detect patterns, model complexity, and support rapid decision-making, can help regulators and other stakeholders better understand risks, identify early warnings, and develop more effective responses.

However, it's important to note that PromptZero primarily reduces output length rather than optimizing AI architecture or data centre energy sourcing. There is no indication yet that it impacts model training emissions or overall data centre electricity sources. The report from the Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR) highlights the potential role of AI in disaster prediction and response, environmental monitoring, and public communication around risk.

Singapore, home to more than 70 data centres, has halted new data centre approvals between 2019 and 2022 and introduced tighter energy efficiency requirements. The tool could help reduce the environmental costs of AI technologies like ChatGPT-4, which is powered by energy-intensive data centres.

AI-based predictive models can help assess the likelihood and extent of wildfires, floods, and toxic spills. However, the report warns that AI poses risks around bias, opacity, and data privacy, especially when integrated into regulatory systems. As we continue to harness the power of AI, tools like PromptZero will be crucial in striking a balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability.

[1] "PromptZero: The world's first AI prompt to reduce carbon emissions." Earth Public Information Collaborative (EPIC), 2025. [2] "The environmental impact of AI: A comprehensive analysis." International Energy Agency (IEA), 2025. [3] "AI in the age of climate change: Opportunities and challenges." Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR), 2025.

1. The innovative AI prompt, PromptZero, developed by EPIC, is designed to reduce carbon emissions associated with generative AI models, such as ChatGPT-4, by activating a low-emission mode and generating brief, efficient responses.
2. The implementation of PromptZero could potentially contribute to water security by reducing the energy consumption of AI, thus lowering the overall effects of climate-change on water-stressed regions.
3. The environmental-science community has been monitoring the energy consumption of data centers, cryptocurrency mining, and data transmission infrastructure, which together account for an increasing percentage of global electricity demand and are a growing concern in terms of sustainability and greenwashing.
4. The use of AI and specific tools like PromptZero could play a pivotal role in addressing the environmental implications of AI, as they aim to lower energy consumption and carbon emissions, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
5. With the capability to detect patterns, model complexity, and support rapid decision-making, AI, powered by artificial-intelligence, can serve as a valuable instrument in the field of science, particularly in the context of understanding and managing climate-change, while striking a balance between technological progress and environmental considerations.

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