Openai's Altman challenges misconceptions about ai's water usage

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has dismissed concerns about AI's water consumption, calling the issue a widespread misconception. He argued that while data centers are often seen as major water users, their actual water usage is comparable to a typical office building. Altman cited a 2024 report from Virginia's state government, which found that most data centers use water similar to or less than large commercial buildings. He also compared AI's water use to almond farming, noting that growing one almond in California requires significantly more water than thousands of ChatGPT queries. Altman stated that AI's water usage is often exaggerated, but industry efforts are needed to change public perception. He emphasized that providing tangible value to users is key to improving public opinion on AI.