Energy consumption in artificial and natural neural networks.

A. Neural networks (middle) are fed with input data in machine learning (top left) or with sensory stimuli in an animal’s brain (bottom left). As the information is dynamically processed, an output is produced, for instance a new data item (top right) or a behavioral response (bottom right). Carrying out these computations requires sources of energy (shown in orange; bread designed by Freepik), and resource limitations affect performance.

B. If power is capped, the time needed to train an AI model to achieve a specific task generally increases. However, the cumulative energy required for the training may exhibit a minimum at intermediate power levels.