OpenAI CEO Downplays ChatGPT's Environmental Impact
2025-06-12
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claims ChatGPT's energy and water usage is far lower than previous studies suggest. He claims a single query requires only 0.34 Wh and a negligible amount of water. However, calculations based on ChatGPT's active users and message volume suggest significantly higher water consumption than Altman's estimates, contradicting other research. Altman's statements raise questions about OpenAI's data transparency and environmental responsibility, highlighting the significant environmental cost of large language models.