Sam Altman says fears that AI data centers guzzle water are overblown — but hard to dispel
Sam Altman says concerns about AI's water use are overblown, comparing ChatGPT's water use to that of growing almonds in California.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman downplayed worries about AI data centers consuming excessive water, but acknowledged it is a persistent issue. In an interview for the Sources podcast, Altman stated that modern data centers use water usage similar to a large office building, which is a common misconception. He also pointed out that ChatGPT queries use a significantly smaller amount of water compared to growing a single almond in California.
The concern about water usage in AI has been a strong talking point against data centers, with 71% of Americans reportedly opposing data center construction due to environmental concerns, and 18% specifically citing water usage. In response to the backlash, Altman emphasized the industry's responsibility to change public perception by delivering value through easy-to-use AI products.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
