---
title: "The Hidden Cost of AI: What Every Leader Needs to Know About Energy and Water"
subtitle: "From Lab to Life: Translating complex research into practical insights"
url: "https://talirezun.com/library/hidden-cost-of-ai-energy-water"
markdown: "https://talirezun.com/library/hidden-cost-of-ai-energy-water.md"
type: "Essay"
brand: "From Lab to Life"
published: "2025-08-12"
updated: "2026-10-19T09:31:17.178Z"
authors: ["Tali Režun"]
topics: ["Leadership","Sustainability"]
---

# The Hidden Cost of AI: What Every Leader Needs to Know About Energy and Water

*From Lab to Life: Translating complex research into practical insights*

- URL: https://talirezun.com/library/hidden-cost-of-ai-energy-water
- Type: Essay
- Brand: From Lab to Life
- Published: 2025-08-12
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- Author: Tali Režun
- Topics: Leadership, Sustainability

## Summary

A short leader-facing digest of the peer-reviewed COTRUGLI research on generative AI's resource footprint (B15).

## Overview

A short leader-facing digest of the peer-reviewed COTRUGLI research on generative AI's resource footprint (B15). AI could double global data-centre electricity use to nearly 1,000 TWh by 2030. A 500-word ChatGPT email uses about 0.3 Wh of energy and 0.01 litres of water. The piece covers model-efficiency choices, regional grid risk, and practical mitigations such as task-specific models and off-peak training.

## Editions

Where to read the full work (the canonical edition first):

- [Medium](https://medium.com/@talirezun/the-hidden-cost-of-ai-what-every-leader-needs-to-know-about-energy-and-water-42639a125cfd) (canonical)

## Related

- [The Energy and Water Footprint of Generative AI: A Vanguard Leadership Perspective](https://talirezun.com/library/energy-water-footprint-generative-ai.md)
- [Are We Becoming Obsolete, or Finally Free?](https://talirezun.com/library/obsolete-or-finally-free.md)
- [AI as a Force Multiplier: Leaders for Industry 5.0](https://talirezun.com/library/ai-force-multiplier-industry-5.md)

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HTML page: https://talirezun.com/library/hidden-cost-of-ai-energy-water · The whole Library: https://talirezun.com/library.md