Sam Altman Defends AI Water Use Amid California Legislation

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pushed back against claims that artificial intelligence consumes excessive amounts of water, describing viral narratives that equate a single query to hours of showering as an online myth. Speaking on the Sources podcast, Altman asserted that approximately 38,000 ChatGPT queries use the same amount of water as the production of a single California almond. He argued that modern data centers have phased out water-intensive evaporative cooling and now have routine consumption comparable to corporate office buildings.

PolitiFact rated Altman's almond comparison as Mostly False, stating he used an unconfirmed low estimate for AI water use and an inflated figure for almond production. Experts, including Professor Shaolei Ren, argue that AI water consumption is too variable for a single statistic and warn that data centers increase peak demand on aging public systems by using treated potable water rather than irrigation water.

This debate coincides with legislative action in California. Governor Gavin Newsom is weighing two bills authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan that would require data center operators to disclose water sources and usage during permit applications. The legislation would also block local governments from approving new facilities without disclosed water plans. While the tech industry opposes the bills, researchers warn that peak demand during heatwaves could strain public infrastructure.