AI water consumption footprint under scrutiny

Discussions regarding the environmental impact of artificial intelligence have highlighted concerns over water usage. While a widely circulated statistic suggests that a single ChatGPT query consumes an entire bottle of water, research indicates the actual footprint is significantly smaller. For instance, a simple request like writing an email uses approximately 6mL, or about 1% of a standard water bottle.

Challenges in calculating precise AI water consumption stem from a lack of transparency by AI companies regarding their models and energy requirements. This opacity, combined with the rapid growth of data centers, has contributed to public distrust.

Some researchers, such as Andy Masley, suggest that the intense focus on AI’s water usage may overlook other high-consumption industries. For comparison, producing one kilogram of pork requires approximately 1,078 liters of water, while one kilogram of beef consumes about 925 liters.