Microsoft’s ChatGPT Raises Environmental Concerns as Water Consumption Skyrockets

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Microsoft’s ChatGPT, developed in collaboration with OpenAI, is facing environmental concerns as its water consumption skyrockets. The large language model (LLM) reportedly utilizes 16 ounces of fresh water for every series of questions a user asks. Despite the rise in water consumption, ChatGPT and other LLMs have yet to face the same level of scrutiny as energy-consuming practices like cryptocurrency mining.

According to Microsoft’s latest environmental report, the company’s global water consumption surged by 34% from 2021-22, reaching nearly 1.7 billion gallons. This substantial increase is primarily attributed to artificial intelligence (AI) research, including the heavy investment in generative AI and the partnership with OpenAI.

Shaolei Ren, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside, has been developing a process to calculate the environmental impact of ChatGPT. Ren’s team estimates that the chatbot consumes 16 ounces of water for every 5 to 50 user queries or prompts. However, many users are unaware of the resource usage underlying ChatGPT, highlighting the need for greater awareness and conservation efforts.

The popularity of ChatGPT has raised environmental concerns related to LLMs. These concerns stem from the fact that massive data centers powering the chatbot require significant amounts of water for liquid cooling.

In response to these concerns, Microsoft has expressed its commitment to measuring the energy and carbon footprint of its AI research. The company is actively exploring ways to make large systems more efficient during both training and application phases. Microsoft aims to monitor its emissions, accelerate progress, increase the use of clean energy to power data centers, and work towards its sustainability goals of being carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030.

OpenAI, which collaborated with Microsoft on ChatGPT, acknowledges the energy and water-intensive nature of training large models. The organization is actively working on improving efficiencies to reduce environmental impact.

As the environmental impact of AI technologies becomes more apparent, it is crucial for both companies and users to understand and address the resource usage involved. Sustainable practices, such as optimizing energy and water consumption, should be prioritized as the development and utilization of AI continue to expand.

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Neha Sharma
Neha Sharma
Neha Sharma is a tech-savvy author at The Reportify who delves into the ever-evolving world of technology. With her expertise in the latest gadgets, innovations, and tech trends, Neha keeps you informed about all things tech in the Technology category. She can be reached at neha@thereportify.com for any inquiries or further information.

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