Using generative AI to create a single image takes as much energy as charging a smartphone from scratch, according to new research from an AI startup and Carnegie Mellon University. Using generative AI for text is less energy-intensive: getting responses to 1,000 text prompts uses only 16 per cent of an average phone charge. But a generative AI image habit could become costly quickly in carbon terms: creating 1,000 images uses as much energy as driving 4.1 miles in a petrol-powered car. In short, even though training AI models consumes a lot of energy, using them will consume much more, which makes a certain sort of sense. Thinking makes you hungry. The MIT Tech Review has the scoop.