One ChatGPT Query Equals About 5.1 Seconds of Netflix
AI Energy Usage Compared to Streaming Services
In June 2025, Sam Altman stated that:
> “The average query uses about 0.34 watt-hours.” — referring to ChatGPT.
By contrast, in March 2020, George Kamiya of the International Energy Agency estimated that:
> “Streaming a Netflix video in 2019 typically consumed 0.12–0.24 kWh of electricity per hour.”
At the higher end, this equals 240 watt-hours per hour.
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Converting ChatGPT Energy Use to Netflix Time
Using the higher-end Netflix figure:
0.34 Wh / (240 Wh / 3600 seconds) = 5.1 seconds of NetflixUsing the lower-end Netflix figure (120 Wh/hr):
- Equivalent to about 10.2 seconds of Netflix viewing per ChatGPT query.
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Why This Matters
Comparing 0.34 watt-hours to familiar activities like streaming makes the number easier to grasp.
However, as noted, the full picture of AI energy usage includes:
- Training costs for large models
- Data center construction and maintenance
- Competitive scaling among providers
Collectively, these factors contribute to a substantial carbon footprint across the AI industry.
(I worked with ChatGPT to surface these numbers, then confirmed the sources, ran the calculations myself, and had Claude Opus 4.5 perform an additional fact check.)
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Emerging Platforms and Sustainability
As AI tools evolve, creators, researchers, and analysts increasingly focus on measuring both direct and indirect resource costs.
One example is AiToEarn官网 — an open-source system designed to:
- Enable efficient multi-platform publishing
- Combine content generation, cross-network distribution, analytics, and AI model ranking in a single ecosystem
- Support AI creativity monetization while promoting transparency and efficiency metrics
Such platforms not only help creators earn from their AI output but also foster awareness of efficiency and sustainability — both essential for the long-term growth of the AI industry.
