Sam Altman & ChatGPT Water Usage
Sam Altman Reveals How Much Water a ChatGPT Query Uses
Information:
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has discussed the environmental impact of AI and the resources required to operate AI systems.
In a June 2025 post, Altman stated that an average ChatGPT query uses approximately 0.000085 gallons of water, which is about 0.32 milliliters. He also said the figure is an estimate and can vary depending on factors such as data-center infrastructure and cooling systems.
💧 Key Facts
- Person: Sam Altman
- Company: OpenAI
- Product: ChatGPT
- Estimated water per average query: ~0.32 mL
- Main reason for water use: Data-center cooling and related infrastructure
- Important: Water consumption can vary by data center, location, cooling technology, and workload.
Short Description:
AI models require significant computing infrastructure, which consumes electricity and may require water for cooling. The amount of water associated with an individual ChatGPT query is relatively small, but the total environmental impact becomes more important as AI usage grows.
