{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.timecybermedia.com/Pages/technology/AI & Policy/sam-altman-defends-ai-resource-usage-calls-water-concerns-fake"},"headline":"Sam Altman Defends AI Resource Usage, Calls Water Concerns ‘Fake’","description":"Sam Altman has pushed back against criticism over AI’s environmental impact, dismissing concerns about water usage as exaggerated and arguing that energy consumption is a normal part of technological progress.","image":["https://res.cloudinary.com/donttjaap/image/upload/v1771848217/primetime_news/te8bmcidqhez2o0d8ic0.webp"],"datePublished":"2026-02-23T12:03:38.705Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T12:03:38.705Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Riddhima Vashisht","url":"https://www.timecybermedia.com"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time Cyber Media","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.timecybermedia.com/logo.png"}},"articleSection":"technology","articleBody":"

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has defended the artificial intelligence industry against growing criticism over its environmental footprint, particularly concerns about water and electricity consumption linked to large data centres.

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Water Usage Debate

Altman described claims that AI systems are draining excessive water resources as “fake” or overstated, arguing that the data often lacks context. Critics have pointed to the cooling requirements of large AI data centres, which can use significant amounts of water in certain regions.

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Energy Consumption Argument

Addressing concerns about electricity demand, Altman noted that “humans use energy too,” suggesting that AI infrastructure should be viewed similarly to other industrial or digital systems that require power to operate. He framed AI as a productivity-enhancing technology whose benefits could outweigh its environmental costs.

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Growing Scrutiny

Environmental researchers and policy experts have increasingly questioned the sustainability of rapidly expanding AI workloads. Governments in several countries are examining data centre regulations, water use disclosures and renewable energy commitments.

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The debate highlights a broader tension between technological advancement and environmental responsibility, as AI adoption accelerates worldwide.