Sam Altman: Humans Are Energy Hogs Too!

In a lively chat at The Indian Express event, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the hot topic of AI’s environmental footprint.

Altman, who was in India for a major AI summit, debunked myths about AI’s water usage, calling them "totally fake." He clarified that evaporative cooling in data centres is a thing of the past, and the idea that ChatGPT guzzles 17 gallons of water per query is "completely untrue."

While acknowledging the genuine concern over AI's total energy consumption, Altman urged a swift transition to nuclear, wind, and solar energy. He pointed out that, unlike humans, AI doesn't have a legal mandate to disclose its energy and water usage, leaving scientists to piece together the puzzle independently.

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When quizzed about the energy cost of a ChatGPT query, Altman dismissed claims that it equates to 1.5 iPhone battery charges. He found such discussions "unfair," especially when they ignore the energy needed to train humans, which involves "20 years of life and all of the food you eat."

Altman humorously noted that humans have taken billions of years of evolution to reach their current state, learning to dodge predators and invent science. In contrast, he argued that AI might already be on par with humans in energy efficiency when it comes to answering questions.

In Altman's view, the real comparison should be between the energy AI uses to answer a question and the energy a human expends doing the same, suggesting that AI might be catching up in terms of energy efficiency. So, next time you chat with ChatGPT, remember, it might just be the greener option!

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