Consultation opens on measuring AI energy consumption and emissions in the EU

The European Commission has launched a targeted consultation on measuring the energy consumption and emissions of AI models and systems as part of a broader study on energy-efficient, low-emission AI in the European Union. The consultation seeks stakeholder input on the energy consumption and energy efficiency of general-purpose AI models.

Responses will help refine the study and contribute to a measurement framework for the AI Act’s energy-related objectives, while also supporting the design of a potential AI energy and emissions label, according to the consultation page.

The consultation targets companies ranging from start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to large enterprises, as well as other organisations that develop and deploy general-purpose AI models or AI systems, alongside their component and service suppliers.

Background information published by the Commission states that the EU AI Act includes provisions on energy consumption and transparency. Providers of general-purpose AI models are required to document the known or estimated energy consumption of their models as part of their technical documentation obligations under Annex XI of the AI Act.

Input is also sought on the accessibility of data needed to assess energy consumption during both training and inference, as well as on the suitability of different AI performance indicators. The Commission says its goal is to develop a robust, industry-informed framework for measuring AI energy consumption and efficiency.

Registered participants will receive an anonymous online questionnaire, and the AI Office will publish a summary of the results based on aggregated data. Respondents will not be directly quoted.

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