Amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, Google says it has calculated the energy required for its Gemini AI service: Sending a single text prompt consumes as much energy as watching television for nine seconds.

The GSA's deal with Google for discounted access to AI tools comes as part of the OneGov procurement initiative aimed at promoting federal government efficiency.

Google says the median Gemini text prompt uses 0.24 watt-hours, a figure it acknowledges is lower than other estimates. For comparison, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said this summer that an average ChatGPT query uses about 0.34 watt-hours, although he didn’t disclose any methodology.

A restaurant in Missouri said an artificial intelligence tool designed to enhance Google search results is causing confusion for customers.

Google’s Pixel 10 phones, to be released Aug. 28, have AI features that can help you take better photos and edit images in response to text or voice commands.

Having the full in-house stack gives Alphabet a unique advantage because it reduces dependence and allows the company to develop, test, and deploy AI fairly quickly. This is much different from companies like Microsoft or Apple, which rely heavily on OpenAI's technology for model development and integration.

Quebec City has started synchronizing traffic lights with the use of Google's artificial intelligence — technology the city says will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and lower greenhouse gas emissions.