Model Comparison
GPT-4o vs GPT-5.5 Instant
GPT-4o: Ultra-efficientGPT-5.5 Instant: Standard
Side-by-side environmental impact comparison. GPT-5.5 Instant uses 86% more energy per query.
GPT-5.5 Instant uses 86% more energy than GPT-4o
0.80 Wh vs 0.43 Wh per query · 0.35 g vs 0.19 g CO₂ · 3 mL vs 2 mL water
GPT-4o
OpenAI
Energy per query0.43 Wh
CO₂ per query0.19 g
Water per query2 mL
VS
GPT-5.5 Instant
OpenAI
Energy per query0.80 Wh
CO₂ per query0.35 g
Water per query3 mL
GPT-4o
ProviderOpenAI
CategoryText / Chat
Inference LocationAzure US East / Sweden
Confidencepeer-reviewed
Efficiency TierUltra-efficient
GPT-5.5 Instant
ProviderOpenAI
CategoryText / Chat
Inference LocationAzure / Multi-cloud
Confidenceestimated
Efficiency TierStandard
Frequently Asked Questions
Which uses more energy, GPT-4o or GPT-5.5 Instant?
GPT-5.5 Instant uses 86% more energy per query than GPT-4o. GPT-4o uses 0.43 Wh per query, while GPT-5.5 Instant uses 0.80 Wh.
What is the carbon footprint difference between GPT-4o and GPT-5.5 Instant?
GPT-5.5 Instant uses 84% more CO₂ per query than GPT-4o. GPT-4o emits 0.19 g of CO₂ per query compared to GPT-5.5 Instant's 0.35 g.
Which is more environmentally friendly, GPT-4o or GPT-5.5 Instant?
GPT-4o is the more environmentally friendly option, using 0.43 Wh per query compared to GPT-5.5 Instant's 0.80 Wh. That makes GPT-5.5 Instant roughly 1.9x more energy-intensive.
Calculate your footprint with these models
See how your daily usage of GPT-4o and GPT-5.5 Instant adds up over time. Our calculator estimates energy, carbon, and water impact.
Calculate My Compute