The Kardashev scale classifies civilizations according to the amount of energy they can use. Type I civilizations absorb approximately 10^16 watts of energy on their planet. Type II draws off the entire energy of a star, and type III that of a galaxy. The current level of humanity is about Type 0.73, with approximately 0.73 percent of the available resources on Earth being utilized. The goal of getting to Type I is to harness all 173,000 terawatts of solar energy that drops onto the Earth. Despite advancements in renewables, we’re still far off. Now, artificial intelligence could shift our trajectory by either helping us scale energy capture or consuming so much that it slows us down.
AI’s Growing Energy Footprint
Large language models and AI in general are power-craving entities. The average query of ChatGPT consumes approximately 2.9 watt-hours, which is approximately 10x that of a Google search. Multiply this by billions of interactions a day, and the effect is rapid. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that data centers powered by AI will use 945 terawatt-hours by the year 2030, exceeding the total amount consumed in Japan. In the U.S., the cumulative electricity demand driven by data centers might represent almost half of the total electricity demand in the year 2030 and 22 percent of household demand in 2028.
Goldman Sachs projects AI will add 200 TWh per year to global demand through 2030. U.S. utilities may need $50 billion in new generation capacity just to keep up. Much of this growth isn’t green; many data centers rely on fossil fuels, with carbon intensity 48% above the national average.
Although AI has the potential to deliver cleverer systems, streamlined supply chains, and superior energy projections, the future trend is self-defeating. We may not be scaling the Kardashev scale on AI, but we find ourselves more resource-strained, making rapid progressions. It is an irony: the technology that may lead to great advances in civilization may also bring civilization to a halt.
Can AI Help Us Reach Type I?
AI’s energy appetite is undeniable, but so is its potential to help us advance. Already, it’s optimizing solar panel efficiency, like Trina Solar’s 2025 record of 25.44%. AI can also forecast weather patterns to better manage grid loads, design more efficient buildings, and reduce waste across industries.
These gains matter. To move up the Kardashev scale, we don’t just need more energy; we need smarter systems that stretch every watt. A 2024 World Economic Forum report highlights how AI could help balance loads, reduce peak demand, and improve energy forecasting. This kind of optimization may be critical in scaling renewable energy and avoiding grid collapse under AI’s load.
But there’s a limit. According to Nature (2025), hardware improvements might not outpace demand. Transparency is lacking, with major AI firms hesitant to disclose true energy use. The result is a blurry picture of whether we’re advancing or just treading water.
If AI accelerates innovation without driving us into an energy crisis, it could push humanity toward Type I. But if it becomes an unchecked power sink, it risks locking us into a stalled 0.7-something future, smarter, yes, but stuck.
AI and the Energy Future
AI’s role in humanity’s energy evolution is double-edged. It can drive us to a Kardashev Type I civilization, paving the way to manage, control, and optimize planetary energy consumption. While insufficiently managed, it may even do the opposite: deepen the oil and gas addiction, destabilize power grids, and hinder the advance of sustainability. The question isn’t whether AI will shape our energy future; it already is. The real challenge is ensuring it doesn’t outgrow the planet’s limits before we do. As we build smarter machines, we must also build smarter infrastructure, or risk a future that’s advanced but unsustainable.
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