MIT Technology Review’s investigation into the energy demands of artificial intelligence has been recognized as a finalist for a 2026 National Magazine Award in the reporting category, the American Society of Magazine Editors announced on February 27, 2026.
The investigation, titled “We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard,” was authored by senior AI reporter James O’Donnell and senior climate reporter Casey Crownhart. Their work stemmed from a growing concern over the lack of transparency surrounding energy consumption within the rapidly expanding AI industry.
For six months, O’Donnell and Crownhart analyzed hundreds of reports and conducted interviews with experts to quantify the energy costs associated with AI, from the energy required for a single prompt to the broader implications of increasing AI demand. Their reporting revealed the significant scale of AI’s energy footprint, its sources, and the financial responsibilities associated with its operation.
The investigation highlighted the challenges in accurately assessing AI’s energy use, noting that leading AI companies had historically been reluctant to disclose detailed information. According to a report summarized by FlowingData, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that current disclosures from tech companies, data center operators, utility companies, and hardware manufacturers are insufficient for making reliable projections about AI’s future energy demands and associated emissions.
The publication of O’Donnell and Crownhart’s findings appears to have prompted a shift in transparency. In the months following the report’s release, OpenAI, Mistral, and Google all began publishing details regarding the energy and water usage of their respective models.
O’Donnell acknowledged the extensive effort involved in the project in a LinkedIn post, stating that tallying the energy appetite of AI had previously led to “dead ends.”
The 2026 National Magazine Awards will be presented in New York City on May 19.
