Sam Altman says concerns of ChatGPT's energy use are overblown: 'It also takes a lot of energy to train a human' (www.businessinsider.com)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pushed back against concerns regarding the energy consumption of ChatGPT, labeling claims that it uses excessive water as “fake” and outdated. During an AI summit, he argued that while the AI industry does consume significant energy, the specific energy used for individual queries is minimal—roughly equivalent to the power required for a lightbulb in a few minutes. Altman highlighted the unfair comparison between AI training energy and the human lifecycle, emphasizing that training a human takes around 20 years of energy investment, including education and nurturing. Altman also pointed out the need for the AI industry to transition towards renewable energy sources, such as solar and nuclear, addressing the growing public concern over data center energy demand—predicted to reach 14% of total U.S. power consumption by 2050. Unlike Elon Musk, who suggests space-based data centers as a potential solution, Altman finds such ideas impractical within the next decade. With data center energy consumption becoming a focal point of discussion, Altman's insights reflect a broader industry narrative on balancing AI development with environmental sustainability.