WSJ Tech News Briefing: Why Google Wants You to Know the Environmental Cost of AI Queries

Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Julie Chang
Guests: Nicole Nguyen (WSJ Personal Tech Columnist), Liz Young, Clara Hudson (WSJ Pro Sustainable Business Reporter)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the growing trend of "Deep Research" features in popular AI chatbots, exploring how these advanced query tools work, their efficiency compared to standard web searches, and their environmental impact. A new Google report discloses the energy and water costs behind AI queries, attempting to bring greater transparency to the environmental footprint of generative AI.

Key Topics and Insights

The Rise of "Deep Research" in AI Chatbots

(00:19 – 05:10)

• What is Deep Research?

  • AI chatbots (Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Grok, etc.) now offer advanced "Deep Research" toggles.
  • These queries are much more thorough and take significantly longer (10–30 minutes) as the AI combs through large swathes of the internet and sources.
  • Nicole Nguyen: "The bot will plunge into the depths of the Internet... It will analyze thousands of words from its search and repeat that process again and again and again until it's satisfied." (01:30)

• Comparison to Basic Google Searches

  • Deep research can handle complex queries by simulating many types of searches and collating results (e.g., finding an EV that fits a specific car seat and has a given wheelbase).
  • Saves users hours or even days on elaborate searches.
  • Nicole Nguyen: "This deep research tool allows me to pull up...a prompt, click start query, and then I can make my coffee and come back and in 10 minutes, it’s done." (03:30)

• Quality and Cost

  • Deep research responses tend to be far more detailed, rooted in web search, and often more accurate.
  • AI companies often set daily limits to control costs due to higher resource requirements.
  • Nicole Nguyen: "It's more expensive for them to produce that response because it takes more time. And that's why most people are limited in the Deep research queries that they can ask per day." (01:30)
  • Users can compare responses from different AI platforms as these tools are mostly free for now, which may not last.

Environmental Cost of AI Queries

(05:29 – 10:34)

• Google’s New Transparency Report

  • Google reveals that one Gemini AI query uses about as much energy as watching 9 seconds of TV and about 5 drops of water.
    • Liz Young: "The report says that when you give Gemini a prompt, it takes the same amount of energy as watching 9 seconds of TV and it also consumes about 5 drops of water." (06:07)
  • The company has detailed its methodology, encouraging other tech firms to disclose similar data.
  • This is part of Google’s effort to both increase transparency and ease public concern about AI’s ecological footprint.

• Water Usage and Data Centers

  • The environmental impact isn't just about electricity; water used for cooling data centers is a significant, often overlooked factor.
  • Liz Young: "Data centers use a huge amount of water to cool down all of the electrical equipment that powers AI." (06:41)

• Comparisons Across Companies

  • There is little industry-wide transparency; methods of calculation and results vary.
  • OpenAI’s Sam Altman has provided an estimate (one ChatGPT query ≈ energy an oven uses in one second and 1/15 teaspoon of water), but without disclosing methodology.
    • Liz Young: "He actually didn't include how he got to those numbers." (07:26)

Balancing AI Ambitions with Environmental Responsibility

(08:20 – 10:34)

• Emission Trends

  • Companies like Google face tension between their aggressive AI development and environmental pledges.
  • Google's emissions have risen 51% since 2019 due to AI, but recent improvements have made AI processes more efficient.
  • Liz Young: "Google reported earlier this summer that its emissions jumped 51% since 2019 because of its AI needs. But then its Gemini report from last week said it's more efficient now than it was a year ago." (08:25)

• What Can Users Do?

  • Users can help by keeping queries concise and simple; shorter, less complex prompts reduce energy usage.
  • The real impact comes at scale: millions of users conducting frequent, intensive queries could lead to significant environmental costs.
    • Liz Young: "If you ask it shorter questions and keep things simple, it's ultimately better for the environment." (09:04)

• What Are Tech Companies Doing?

  • Slow responses by a few milliseconds when urgency is not needed.
  • Use recycled or non-potable water for cooling.
  • Invest in renewable energy, such as hydropower.
  • However, green energy remains a small fraction of overall AI operations' power supply.
  • Liz Young: "There are ways to better manage water use also, like using recycled water or water that isn't safe to drink." (09:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nicole Nguyen on Deep Research’s value:
  "The beauty of living in this era is that a lot of these tools are now available to us for free, and it probably won't be that way forever… And that's a really good way to kick off any type of complicated search." (04:12)

• Julie Chang on Google’s intentions:
  "Google also appears to be looking to ease brewing anxieties that frequently using generative AI such as Gemini can be detrimental to the environment." (05:29)

• Liz Young on the importance of water in AI:
  "This report might encourage more companies to talk about their water use. And it could also help people who use chatbots really frequently and weren't even aware that there is this water cost to asking their questions." (06:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19 – Introduction to Deep Research in AI chatbots
• 01:30 – Nicole Nguyen explains what Deep Research is
• 02:39 – Comparing Deep Research to Google search
• 03:30 – Time saved using Deep Research
• 06:07 – Google’s report: Energy and water per Gemini query
• 08:25 – Google’s emissions increase and improved efficiency
• 09:04 – Tips for reducing AI’s environmental impact
• 09:50 – How tech companies are reducing resource use

Conclusion

This episode of Tech News Briefing explores how "Deep Research" AI chatbot features are reshaping our search habits—saving time on complex queries but also drawing attention to the hidden environmental costs of these powerful technologies. Google's recent transparency in disclosing the energy and water footprint of its Gemini chatbot sets a new industry benchmark, encouraging users and companies alike to consider sustainability as AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life.