‘Sam Almond’ becomes a meme after the OpenAI CEO’s comments on ChatGPT’s water usage
Thirty-eight thousand ChatGPT queries versus a single almond may sound like a strange sequel to the “ 100 men versus a gorilla ” viral debate meme. Instead, it’s just Sam Altman’s response to public concerns over AI ’s water usage. In a recent podcast , the OpenAI CEO sat down with tech reporter Alex Heath to discuss the future of the technology while also addressing concerns over AI’s impact on…
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparked a meme frenzy after suggesting that running a single query on ChatGPT uses as much water as taking a six-hour shower, which is equivalent to the water used in producing a single almond in California. The comparison came during a recent podcast where Altman addressed public concerns about AI's water usage, attempting to downplay the issue by comparing it to a more water-intensive product.
Despite the meme's popularity, Altman acknowledged that the comparison doesn't hold up to scrutiny, as agriculture remains a more significant water consumer. Social media users embraced Altman's response by dubbing him "Sam Almond," creating AI-generated images of the CEO resembling an almond, and referencing the "almond mom" meme which highlights unhealthy eating habits imposed by mothers.
While some users recognized the humor in the comparison, others pointed out that water usage in agriculture serves a vital human need that AI, such as ChatGPT, cannot replace with food.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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