Experts question Sam Altman's claims on AI water use as California considers transparency bills
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claimed that ChatGPT queries use significantly less water than almond production, a claim experts say is impossible to verify due to a lack of public data from the secretive data center industry. California lawmakers have passed two bills aimed at increasing transparency regarding data center water usage, which now await the governor's signature amidst growing concerns about water demands.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated on a podcast that 38,000 ChatGPT queries use the same amount of water as producing a single California almond, dismissing concerns about AI's water footprint. His comments come as California Governor Gavin Newsom considers legislation that would require data centers to disclose their water usage.
However, experts like Shaolei Ren, a professor at UC Riverside, and Michael Kiparsky, director of the Wheeler Water Institute at UC Berkeley, dispute Altman's ability to make such claims. They argue that public data on data center water consumption is extremely limited and that numerous variables – including location, temperature, cooling systems, and query complexity – make broad generalizations impossible to verify.
California Assemblymember Diane Papan has authored two bills, recently passed by state lawmakers and awaiting Newsom's signature, aimed at increasing transparency. One bill would mandate operators to report water sources and usage for business permits, while the other would prevent local governments from approving new data centers without developers disclosing water plans and covering necessary infrastructure upgrades. Newsom previously vetoed similar legislation, citing concerns about impacts on businesses.
The debate highlights rising urgency as data center developments face widespread opposition and bans across California. Reports indicate overall data center water usage is increasing, with one study projecting hyperscale data centers could consume 150 billion gallons from 2025 to 2030. Researchers also note that data centers often use treated, potable water, and peak demand can strain aging water systems, citing examples in Georgia and Virginia.