Sam Altman Would Like To Remind You That Humans Use a Lot of Energy, Too

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by msmash

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has addressed concerns about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in a recent interview with *Indian Express*. He dismissed claims that ChatGPT consumes an excessive amount of water per query, calling such figures "completely untrue" and "totally insane." Altman argued that while evaporative cooling in data centers was once a significant concern for water usage, advancements have made this issue obsolete. Instead, he proposed comparing AI's energy consumption to that of humans as a more equitable measure. Altman acknowledged the environmental concerns surrounding AI's energy demands but emphasized the importance of context. He noted that while training AI models does consume substantial power, the energy efficiency on a per-query basis has improved significantly. For instance, Altman pointed out that it takes decades of human life and resources for an individual to achieve the same level of "smartness" as a trained model, making AI more efficient in the long run. The discussion also touched on broader implications for the tech industry and sustainability efforts. Altman called for a rapid transition to cleaner energy sources like nuclear, wind, and solar power to address overall energy consumption. He critiqued comparisons that pit the energy cost of training a single AI model against the lifetime energy use of a human, arguing such contrasts are misleading. Instead, he highlighted that on a per-query basis, AI has already surpassed humans in energy efficiency. Altman's comments reflect a broader debate within the tech community about AI's role in sustainability and resource management. As AI adoption grows globally, understanding its environmental impact becomes increasingly critical for both developers and users. Altman's stance underscores the need for more nuanced discussions about energy consumption and efficiency, particularly as the industry moves toward cleaner technologies.

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Originally published on Slashdot on 2/23/2026