The ultimate carbon cost of a ChatGPT query

Recent research from arXiv analyzes the carbon cost associated with each query to a Large Language Model (LLM), such as ChatGPT. It estimates an environmental cost of approximately $0.4 USD per query for future generations due to environmental disruptions, corresponding to emissions around 10 gCO2eq/query. The primary variable impacting this cost is the number of tokens processed per query, which can range significantly.

Why it matters

This research highlights the environmental footprint and future financial liabilities associated with the increasing adoption and usage of AI, particularly large language models. Understanding these costs is critical for developing sustainable technology strategies and integrating environmental considerations into AI development and deployment frameworks.

Key insights

• A single LLM query (e.g., ChatGPT) incurs a carbon cost estimated at $0.4 USD for the future human population, primarily due to environmental disruptions.
• This financial cost corresponds to approximately 10 gCO2eq of emissions per query.
• The total number of tokens computed per query is the most significant variable, leading to a wide range of potential costs from $0.012 to $1.20 per query.

Source

arXiv — Computers and Society — https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.16657