Sam Altman: AI Water Use Minimal, Like 1 Almond

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says 38,000 ChatGPT queries use the same amount of water as one California almond. He pushed back against criticism of AI's environmental impact on the "Sources" podcast. Altman stated this metric was from memory but reflects minimal real-world water usage for AI compared to agriculture. He argues concerns about data center water intensity are based on outdated cooling systems. Modern data centers use closed-loop systems, similar to office buildings. OpenAI estimates a single ChatGPT prompt uses about 0.32 milliliters of water. However, researchers say precise calculations are difficult due to a lack of standardized disclosures. California lawmakers are considering mandating detailed utility reporting for data centers. This debate impacts how we understand the true environmental cost of AI technology.