According to a study published by the University of California, Riverside in September 2023, ChatGPT consumes 500 ml of water for every 5 to 50 prompts or questions it answers. This water is used to cool the massive data centers that ChatGPT runs on.
The study also found that Microsoft’s global water usage surged by 34% from 2021 to 2022, with the majority of this increase attributed to the launch of ChatGPT.
It’s important to note that this water usage is indirect, meaning that it’s not the water that ChatGPT itself is drinking. Rather, it’s the water that is used to cool the servers that ChatGPT runs on.
However, this indirect water usage is still significant, and it raises concerns about the environmental impact of large language models like ChatGPT.
Researchers are working on ways to reduce the water usage of AI models, such as by developing more efficient cooling systems. In the meantime, it’s important to be aware of the water footprint of AI models when using them.
Here are some tips for reducing the water footprint of your AI usage:
- Be mindful of how often you use AI models. Only use them when you need them, and avoid using them for frivolous tasks.
- Choose AI models that are developed by companies that are committed to sustainability.
- Support research into more efficient and sustainable AI models.
