All answers attributed to Lisa Stanley, Chief Sustainability Officer, Zero, sustainable money app:
Q1. With 83% of UK adults now aware of or using generative AI tools, yet many remaining unaware of their environmental impact, how can financial institutions like Zero bridge this knowledge gap and promote sustainable AI usage?
“We often think of digital activities as intangible, but every AI interaction – be it a quick chatbot query or a personalised recommendation – draws energy from vast data centres. These centres consume significant amounts of electricity and water, contributing to environmental impacts that are largely invisible to the average user.
With questions asked on AI platforms such as ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini reportedly consuming 10 times the electricity of a Google search, it’s hardly surprising Google’s energy consumption rose by more than a quarter (27%) in 2024 alone.
Indeed, the International Energy Association estimates that global datacentre electricity consumption could double by 2026 to levels around the same as the amount consumed by the whole of Japan.
As the recent warm, dry weather starts to bite on the nation’s water supply, with droughts predicted in several regions, the huge scale of AI’s water requirements is only just beginning to be understood.
According to a recent article* writing a 100-word email using ChatGPT uses 500ml water and around 140kWh of energy, the same amount used to fully charge an iPhone Pro Max seven times.
Just as we’ve come to expect nutritional information on food packaging, it’s time we had clear, accessible information about the environmental footprint of our digital actions. At Zero, we believe in empowering individuals with knowledge, so they can make choices that align with both their financial goals and environmental values.”
Q2. As AI becomes a bigger part of our daily lives – from online shopping to budgeting tools – how can we balance the benefits of convenience and time-saving with the need to be honest about AI’s environmental footprint?
“Whether you’re asking ChatGPT to write a work email, using AI to help budget your food shop, getting playlist recommendations or even planning a holiday wardrobe moodboard – every request has a hidden cost to the planet. The energy it takes to power those responses, often in giant data centres, adds up fast. This is happening in homes, on sofas, during lunch breaks. We need to start treating AI like any other utility – with clear impact stats and everyday accountability. The average person deserves to know: how green is your chatbot?” So consumers can make informed decisions resulting in intentional use and not a ‘go-to’ for every little thing.
Due to the prolific growth of AI models and platforms it’s still difficult to understand the full picture, however, we are beginning to see more sustainable options appear – GreenPT.ai for example claims to run on 100% renewable energy and consume less energy than others by using smaller, more efficient models and specialised lightweight agents to minimise computational requirements.”
Q3. With younger generations increasingly relying on AI for personal finance decisions, what safeguards should be implemented to protect consumers from potential pitfalls associated with AI-driven financial advice?
“When it comes to financial education and advice, there’s an alarming trend of Gen Z placing more trust in TikTok algorithms and AI chatbots than in traditional financial providers. But the reality is, a prompt isn’t a plan. As with all financial matters, it’s crucial to do your homework – ask the questions, understand the risks, and be clear on how your provider is using your money. That includes being alert to things like greenwashing, and being comfortable with the ethics and transparency behind your financial decisions. Be wary of how information is being generated – both in terms of the quality of that information and also how it came to exist in the world.
Without the full picture, there’s a risk that the environmental impacts of your AI research undermines your efforts to be sustainable elsewhere in your life.”
About Zero:
Zero is a UK-based sustainable money app designed to help people understand and reduce their carbon impact through their everyday spending. With tools like the GreenScore® and real-time carbon insights, Zero empowers users to make more sustainable financial choices – from transport to takeaways.
