Sam Altman says fears that AI data centers guzzle water are overblown — but hard to dispel

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Published: 2026-09-02T01:56:40.768Z • Permanent link

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has sparked controversy by downplaying concerns about the water usage of AI data centers. Altman made this statement during a recent interview, comparing the water consumption of ChatGPT, OpenAI's popular AI chatbot, to that of growing almonds in California. According to OpenAI, ChatGPT uses approximately 1.1 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per hour, which translates to around 0.000016 gallons of water per hour. In contrast, growing almonds in California requires around 1.1 gallons of water per pound of almonds produced. With an average almond production of around 100 pounds per tree, this equates to around 110 gallons of water per tree per year. OpenAI's data centers, which host ChatGPT, consume around 10-20 megawatts of power, resulting in a water usage of approximately 6,500-13,000 gallons per day.

Altman's comments have been met with skepticism by some experts, who argue that the comparison is not entirely accurate. For instance, the water usage of AI data centers can vary greatly depending on the specific hardware and cooling systems used. Moreover, the water usage of AI data centers is not just limited to the cooling systems, but also includes the power generation and distribution infrastructure. Furthermore, the water usage of AI data centers is expected to increase as the demand for AI-powered services grows.

Despite these criticisms, Altman's comments highlight the growing concern about the environmental impact of AI data centers. As AI becomes increasingly ubiquitous, there is a growing need to understand its environmental footprint and develop sustainable solutions. OpenAI has taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint, including investing in renewable energy sources and implementing energy-efficient cooling systems. However, more needs to be done to address the water usage of AI data centers and ensure that they do not contribute to water scarcity in regions where they are located.

The controversy surrounding Altman's comments has significant implications for the data sources domain. Companies like OpenAI, Google, and Amazon, which operate large-scale AI data centers, are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. Governments and regulatory bodies are also taking notice, with some countries introducing policies to limit the energy consumption of data centers. For instance, the city of Helsinki, Finland, has introduced a policy requiring data centers to reduce their energy consumption by 50% by 2025. As a result, companies like OpenAI need to develop more sustainable solutions to reduce their environmental impact and ensure that their AI data centers do not contribute to water scarcity.

Research communities and academia are also taking notice of the growing concern about AI data centers. Researchers are exploring new technologies and solutions to reduce the energy consumption and water usage of AI data centers. For instance, researchers have developed new materials and cooling systems that can reduce the energy consumption of AI data centers by up to 50%. However, more research is needed to fully understand the environmental impact of AI data centers and develop effective solutions.

The controversy surrounding Altman's comments is part of a larger pattern of debate about the environmental impact of AI. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to address the environmental impact of AI and develop more sustainable solutions. For instance, the United Nations has launched a initiative to promote sustainable AI development and deployment. The initiative aims to develop guidelines and standards for the environmental impact of AI and promote the use of sustainable AI solutions. Similarly, companies like Google and Amazon have introduced policies to reduce their environmental impact, including investing in renewable energy sources and implementing energy-efficient cooling systems.