HomeSam Altman Reminds Humans Also Use a Lot of Energy
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently spoke at an event hosted by The Indian Express, where he addressed concerns surrounding AI’s environmental footprint.
Altman, who was in India for a major AI summit, described concerns about AI’s water consumption as “totally fake,” though he admitted it had been a real problem when data centers used evaporative cooling.
He noted that now that evaporative cooling is no longer used, misconceptions persist online. “You see things like, ‘Don’t use ChatGPT, it uses 17 gallons of water per query,’ which is completely false and has no basis in reality,” Altman added.
Altman said it’s “fair” to worry about overall energy consumption from AI, not per query, given the world’s increasing reliance on AI. He argued this underscores the need to “move quickly toward nuclear, wind, and solar energy.”
Since tech companies aren’t legally required to disclose energy and water usage, researchers have been conducting independent studies. Data centers have also been linked to higher electricity costs.
Referencing a prior discussion with Bill Gates, the interviewer asked if a single ChatGPT query really consumes the equivalent of 1.5 iPhone battery charges. Altman responded, “There’s no way it’s anything close to that much.”
Altman also criticized many discussions about ChatGPT’s energy use as “unfair,” particularly those comparing the energy cost of training an AI model to the cost of a human performing a single inference query.
TechCrunch EventSave up to $300 or 30% on TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors gather at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day dedicated to growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Hear from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers at similar growth stages. Leave with actionable tactics you can apply right away.
Offer ends March 13.
Save up to $300 or 30% on TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors gather at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day dedicated to growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Hear from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers at similar growth stages. Leave with actionable tactics you can apply right away.
Offer ends March 13.
Boston, MA | June 9, 2026 | Register NowAltman continued, “But training a human also requires a lot of energy—20 years of life and all the food consumed during that time before a person becomes knowledgeable. And beyond that, it took the evolution of the 100 billion people who ever lived, learning to avoid predators and develop science and everything else, to create you.”
In his view, the fair comparison is: “If you ask ChatGPT a question, how much energy does it take, after the model is trained, to answer that question compared to a human? And by that measure, AI has likely already matched human energy efficiency.”
You can watch the full interview below. The discussion on water and energy consumption starts around the 26:35 mark.
Sam Altman Sparks Debate Over AI's Deceleration
Listen onApple PodcastsListen onSpotifyOpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently suggested that it may be time to “pace the rate of AI development” to allow society to “harden around some of these new capability levels.”On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equ
OpenAI fights Apple trade secret lawsuit
OpenAI rebutted Apple’s trade secret allegations on Tuesday, arguing the lawsuit is unfounded.“We take these claims seriously but see no evidence supporting them,” OpenAI stated, as reported by Bloomberg’s Ed Ludlow on X. “We support fair competition
OpenAI robotics head Caitlin Kalinowski resigns over Pentagon partnership
OpenAI robotics leader Caitlin Kalinowski has stepped down following the company’s controversial partnership with the Department of Defense.“This wasn’t an easy call,” Kalinowski explained in a social media statement. “While AI plays a vital role in
Related Special Topic Recommendations
SEO
Best AI SERP Analysis Tools for Search Strategy
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI SERP Analysis Tools for Search Strategy are curated by XIX.AI through rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. These powerful tools help you unlock hidden optimization opportunities, boost content performance, and gain a competitive edge in search. Discover your perfect tool to elevate your search strategy today. Explore now!
13 tools
xix.ai
Data Analysis
Best AI Anomaly Detection Tools for KPI Monitoring across SaaS and Ecommerce Teams
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Anomaly Detection Tools for KPI Monitoring in SaaS and Ecommerce teams! XIX.AI has curated a powerful, game-changing collection based on rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison insights to help you identify the must-try solution that boosts productivity and unlocks your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
writing
Best AI Outline Generators for Long-Form SEO Articles
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Outline Generators for Long-Form SEO Articles, meticulously curated by XIX.AI. These powerful tools offer game-changing assistance in creating high-quality content quickly, boosting writing efficiency significantly. Get a free vs paid comparison along with real-world tests and detailed rankings to help you find the must-try option that suits your needs. Explore now to unlock your AI edge.
8 tools
xix.ai
Education and Learning
AI Study Tools for Homework and Exam Prep
2026 Latest Best AI Study Tools for Homework and Exam Prep! XIX.AI curates a top-rated list of powerful, game-changing tools that help students boost productivity, streamline homework completion, and ace exams through real-world tests. Get a free vs paid comparison, detailed rankings, and must-try options to unlock your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
Music composition
AI Vocal Demo Tools for Songwriters, Hooks, Toplines, and Multilingual Draft Sessions
2026 Latest Best AI Vocal Demo Tools for Songwriters, Hook Creators, and Multi-Language Content Teams! XIX.AI has curated a top-rated list of powerful game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison data, comprehensive rankings, and must-try options to help you boost writing efficiency and unlock your creative potential. Explore now to discover your perfect tool for all your content needs!
9 tools
xix.ai
Business
Best AI Competitive Research Tools for Small Businesses
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Competitive Research Tools for Small Businesses! XIX.AI has curated a highly powerful game-changing collection, updated weekly with rigorous real-world tests and detailed rankings. You can find a comprehensive free vs paid comparison to help you identify the must-try tools that boost your productivity and give you a competitive edge. Explore now to discover your perfect tool!
9 tools
xix.ai
Comments (0)
0/500
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently spoke at an event hosted by The Indian Express, where he addressed concerns surrounding AI’s environmental footprint.
Altman, who was in India for a major AI summit, described concerns about AI’s water consumption as “totally fake,” though he admitted it had been a real problem when data centers used evaporative cooling.
He noted that now that evaporative cooling is no longer used, misconceptions persist online. “You see things like, ‘Don’t use ChatGPT, it uses 17 gallons of water per query,’ which is completely false and has no basis in reality,” Altman added.
Altman said it’s “fair” to worry about overall energy consumption from AI, not per query, given the world’s increasing reliance on AI. He argued this underscores the need to “move quickly toward nuclear, wind, and solar energy.”
Since tech companies aren’t legally required to disclose energy and water usage, researchers have been conducting independent studies. Data centers have also been linked to higher electricity costs.
Referencing a prior discussion with Bill Gates, the interviewer asked if a single ChatGPT query really consumes the equivalent of 1.5 iPhone battery charges. Altman responded, “There’s no way it’s anything close to that much.”
Altman also criticized many discussions about ChatGPT’s energy use as “unfair,” particularly those comparing the energy cost of training an AI model to the cost of a human performing a single inference query.
TechCrunch EventSave up to $300 or 30% on TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors gather at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day dedicated to growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Hear from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers at similar growth stages. Leave with actionable tactics you can apply right away.
Offer ends March 13.
Save up to $300 or 30% on TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors gather at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day dedicated to growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Hear from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers at similar growth stages. Leave with actionable tactics you can apply right away.
Offer ends March 13.
Boston, MA | June 9, 2026 | Register NowAltman continued, “But training a human also requires a lot of energy—20 years of life and all the food consumed during that time before a person becomes knowledgeable. And beyond that, it took the evolution of the 100 billion people who ever lived, learning to avoid predators and develop science and everything else, to create you.”
In his view, the fair comparison is: “If you ask ChatGPT a question, how much energy does it take, after the model is trained, to answer that question compared to a human? And by that measure, AI has likely already matched human energy efficiency.”
You can watch the full interview below. The discussion on water and energy consumption starts around the 26:35 mark.
Sam Altman Sparks Debate Over AI's Deceleration
Listen onApple PodcastsListen onSpotifyOpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently suggested that it may be time to “pace the rate of AI development” to allow society to “harden around some of these new capability levels.”On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equ
OpenAI fights Apple trade secret lawsuit
OpenAI rebutted Apple’s trade secret allegations on Tuesday, arguing the lawsuit is unfounded.“We take these claims seriously but see no evidence supporting them,” OpenAI stated, as reported by Bloomberg’s Ed Ludlow on X. “We support fair competition
OpenAI robotics head Caitlin Kalinowski resigns over Pentagon partnership
OpenAI robotics leader Caitlin Kalinowski has stepped down following the company’s controversial partnership with the Department of Defense.“This wasn’t an easy call,” Kalinowski explained in a social media statement. “While AI plays a vital role in
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI SERP Analysis Tools for Search Strategy are curated by XIX.AI through rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. These powerful tools help you unlock hidden optimization opportunities, boost content performance, and gain a competitive edge in search. Discover your perfect tool to elevate your search strategy today. Explore now!
13 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Anomaly Detection Tools for KPI Monitoring in SaaS and Ecommerce teams! XIX.AI has curated a powerful, game-changing collection based on rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison insights to help you identify the must-try solution that boosts productivity and unlocks your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Outline Generators for Long-Form SEO Articles, meticulously curated by XIX.AI. These powerful tools offer game-changing assistance in creating high-quality content quickly, boosting writing efficiency significantly. Get a free vs paid comparison along with real-world tests and detailed rankings to help you find the must-try option that suits your needs. Explore now to unlock your AI edge.
8 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best AI Study Tools for Homework and Exam Prep! XIX.AI curates a top-rated list of powerful, game-changing tools that help students boost productivity, streamline homework completion, and ace exams through real-world tests. Get a free vs paid comparison, detailed rankings, and must-try options to unlock your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best AI Vocal Demo Tools for Songwriters, Hook Creators, and Multi-Language Content Teams! XIX.AI has curated a top-rated list of powerful game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison data, comprehensive rankings, and must-try options to help you boost writing efficiency and unlock your creative potential. Explore now to discover your perfect tool for all your content needs!
9 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Competitive Research Tools for Small Businesses! XIX.AI has curated a highly powerful game-changing collection, updated weekly with rigorous real-world tests and detailed rankings. You can find a comprehensive free vs paid comparison to help you identify the must-try tools that boost your productivity and give you a competitive edge. Explore now to discover your perfect tool!
9 tools
xix.ai
