AI Isn’t Thirsty, California Almonds Are the Real Water Bandits
KEY POINTS
- •OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in September 2026 that AI water usage concerns are overblown but hard to dispel.
- •A 2024 Virginia report found data centers use water amounts comparable to large office buildings in the same area.
- •Gallup reported 71% of Americans opposed new data centers nearby due to environmental worries, including 18% citing water.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO and defender of digital hydration, declared on the September 2026 Sources podcast that AI water use fears are just a meme — one stubbornly on tap despite evidence. According to a 2024 Virginia state report, data centers guzzle about as much water as your typical office building, which means they’re roughly on par with water-cooler gossip in hydration. Altman also threw shade at California almonds – those thirst monsters requiring 3.56 liters each, compared to AI's 0.32 milliliters per ChatGPT prompt. Meanwhile, Gallup polls reveal 71% of Americans dread new data centers, with 18% specifically sweating water wastage, proving people find silicon scary but almonds less so—even when scarfed by the dozen.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)Sam Altman says AI water use is low but don’t count on Californians swapping almonds for chatbots anytime soon. Turns out water villains are more nutty than nerdy.
Water to chat with AI? Less than an almond’s thirst! Meanwhile, almond addicts remain blissfully oblivious to their sprinkler addiction.
When data centers need to defend their hydration levels, you know the almond lobby is winning the drought argument hands down.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 9/2/2026 | Author: Kelsey Vlamis
More Articles in Technology
US Starts 'Tanker for Tanker' Warfare, Because Why Not Swap Shells Now?
Sydney Ride-Share Driver Turns Commute Into Unwanted Adult Genre Premiere
Google Tries Buying Hollywood’s Soul with AI Cash, Studios Nervous
Sam Altman Shuns Smart Glasses, Prefers Sunglasses to Avoid Staring Contests
Google’s Android Will Now Psychically Remember Where You Lost Stuff, Somehow
JBL’s New $230 Speakers Proudly Require Power Cords in 2026
Apple and OpenAI Throw Shade So Hard Lawyers Might Need Sunscreen
