OpenAI CEO Sam Altman clarifies the popular view that single ChatGPT query consumes as much water as taking shower for 6 hours; gives one almond example

Sam Altman has pushed back against escalating criticism over data centre resource consumption, particularly the water needed for artificial intelligence (AI) computing. He has argued that the public alarm over the use of fresh water to cool these massive structures has been exaggerated and ignores major upgrades in modern server cooling infrastructure. Speaking during an episode of the Sources Podcast to address growing public resistance to rapid AI expansion, the OpenAI CEO tackled the claims which allege that running a single ChatGPT prompt drains as much water as leaving a home shower running continuously for six hours.

Dismissing the viral narrative as an online myth, Altman argued that the actual resource ratio is very low.