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Artificial intelligence is on track to become a major energy consumer, potentially exceeding Bitcoin mining’s electricity usage as early as 2025, according to a new analysis. The study projects that AI could account for nearly half of the total electricity consumed by data centers worldwide. Alex de Vries-Gao, a researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, estimates that AI already represents up to 20% of data center electricity demand. Despite ongoing efforts to improve AI efficiency, the exponential growth in its applications and computational demands is driving a surge in energy consumption, raising concerns about sustainability and the need for greater transparency from tech companies regarding their AI-related energy usage.