Analysis by a journalist specializing in global warming, Michael Thomas, shared on X, that both Google and Microsoft consumed the same amount of energy as Azerbaijan, which has about 10.14 million inhabitants and an estimated GDP of $78.7 billion. Google’s 2023 revenue stood at $307.4 billion, and Microsoft’s at $211.9 billion.
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Michael Thomas further claims that 24 TWh, is the equivalent of the needs of’ Azerbaijan, and much higher than that of many small countries that have consumed 19 TWh such as Iceland, The Ghana, Dominican Republic and Tunisia, among others.
However it is to be noted that the per capita consumption of’electricity varies according to the countries' level of development. Some countries that less populated than those mentioned above consume more power. For example, Ireland, populated by only 5 million’ inhabitants, consumes about 31 TWh each.
While Google & Microsoft's massive energy usage has environmental implications, it's worth noting that these tech giants also generate more revenue than many countries. For instance, Google's economic impact exceeded $739 billion, while Microsoft's products likely contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy. These figures highlight the significant financial scale of these companies relative to their substantial electricity consumption.
The massive energy usage underscores the substantial environmental impact of these mammoth companies. But it also serves as a reminder of their sheer scale, and the positive impact they could have an leading more sustainable initiatives.
Michael Thomas's comparison between entire countries and two single companies highlights the massive energy needs of GAFAMs — Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft, with Google and Microsoft's data centers being insatiable. Lately, the race for AI has further multiplied the uses of technological giants. For example, ChatGPT consumes 17,000 times more electricity every day than an average household.
However it is to be noted that the per capita consumption of’electricity varies according to the countries' level of development. Some countries that less populated than those mentioned above consume more power. For example, Ireland, populated by only 5 million’ inhabitants, consumes about 31 TWh each.
While Google & Microsoft's massive energy usage has environmental implications, it's worth noting that these tech giants also generate more revenue than many countries. For instance, Google's economic impact exceeded $739 billion, while Microsoft's products likely contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy. These figures highlight the significant financial scale of these companies relative to their substantial electricity consumption.
The massive energy usage underscores the substantial environmental impact of these mammoth companies. But it also serves as a reminder of their sheer scale, and the positive impact they could have an leading more sustainable initiatives.
Michael Thomas's comparison between entire countries and two single companies highlights the massive energy needs of GAFAMs — Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft, with Google and Microsoft's data centers being insatiable. Lately, the race for AI has further multiplied the uses of technological giants. For example, ChatGPT consumes 17,000 times more electricity every day than an average household.
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