OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has sparked controversy by comparing the energy consumption of artificial intelligence models to that of raising a human child. Speaking at the AI Impact summit in India, Altman told the Indian Express: 'People talk about how much energy it takes to train an AI model – but it also takes a lot of energy to train a human. It takes about 20 years of life – and all the food you consume during that time – before you become smart.'
Despite his defence, Altman acknowledged that public concerns over AI's energy use are 'fair' and called for a rapid transition to nuclear, wind, and solar power. His remarks come amid growing scrutiny of the environmental impact of data centres, which the International Energy Agency says accounted for 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2024. That figure is projected to rise by 15% annually through 2030, far outpacing growth in other sectors.
Altman also dismissed worries about water usage, claiming: 'Water is totally fake. It used to be true. We used to do evaporative cooling in data centres, but now … we don’t do that.' CNBC has reported that some newer data centres no longer rely on water. However, MIT climate fellow Noman Bashir warned that the pace of data centre construction means most electricity must come from fossil fuels, while over 230 environmental groups have called for a US moratorium on building them.
Critics have questioned the societal value of AI. Mike Weinstein, director of sustainability at Southern New Hampshire University, noted that a September 2025 OpenAI report found 70% of ChatGPT messages were not work-related. 'I have yet to see it demonstrated' that the technology justifies its energy toll, he said.
Altman's comments drew sharp backlash online. Matt Stoller of the American Economic Liberties Project posted on X: 'He’s saying a really big spreadsheet and a baby are morally equivalent.' Sports commentator Jeff Johnson likened the remarks to the dystopian series Black Mirror, warning against letting 'these geeks destroy the Earth.'
