Sam Altman says fears that AI data centers guzzle water are overblown — but hard to dispel (www.businessinsider.com)

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, addressed concerns regarding the water consumption of AI data centers during the premiere episode of the Sources podcast. He described the notion that these facilities dramatically increase water usage as a "meme" lacking substantive evidence. According to a 2024 report from a Virginia state government commission, most data centers consume similar amounts of water as large office buildings, with some using even less. This perspective challenges the prevailing fear, as a Gallup survey indicated that 71% of Americans oppose data center construction due to environmental concerns, particularly regarding water. Altman highlighted the relative water usage of AI services compared to agricultural practices, notably stating that a single California almond requires significantly more water than thousands of ChatGPT queries. For context, he noted that while a typical query uses about 0.32 milliliters of water, one almond necessitates about 3.56 liters. Altman believes it is essential for the industry to change public perceptions by showcasing value and improving user experiences, suggesting that the dialogue around AI's environmental impact must shift toward more informed and constructive discussions.