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San Marcos Today
By the People, for the People
OpenAI CEO Dismisses AI Water Usage Concerns as "Fake"
Altman argues "humans use energy too" in response to claims about ChatGPT's water consumption.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has dismissed concerns about the water usage of artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, calling such claims "completely untrue" and "totally insane." Altman argued that the energy consumption of training humans is also significant, and said the fair comparison is the energy used per query, where AI may already be more efficient than humans.
Why it matters
Altman's comments come as tech companies and governments are pouring billions into AI development, raising concerns about the environmental impact of power-hungry data centers required to run these systems. Local communities have been protesting new data center projects over fears they will strain electricity grids and water supplies.
The details
Altman responded to claims that ChatGPT uses gallons of water to generate responses, calling them "fake" and having "no connection to reality." He pushed back on previous comments by Bill Gates suggesting AI can become more energy efficient over time, arguing that training humans also requires significant energy. Altman acknowledged concerns about total energy consumption as AI use grows, but said the per-query efficiency may already be better than humans.
- In February 2026, Altman made these comments at the India AI Impact summit.
The players
Sam Altman
The CEO of OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.
Bill Gates
The co-founder of Microsoft, who previously suggested AI could become more energy efficient over time.
Sridhar Vembu
The co-founder of Indian software firm Zoho Corporation, who criticized Altman's comments equating humans to AI bots.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)
The takeaway
Altman's dismissal of concerns around AI's water usage highlights the ongoing tensions between the tech industry's push for AI development and the environmental impact of the infrastructure required to power these systems. As AI becomes more ubiquitous, balancing innovation and sustainability will be a key challenge for policymakers and tech leaders.
