OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted GPT-4 “kind of sucks,” and now we learn the AI model consumes up to 3 water bottles to generate a mere 100 words

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted GPT-4 "kind of sucks," and now we learn the AI model consumes up to 3 water bottles to generate a mere 100 words

What you need to know

  • A new study indicates OpenAI’s GPT-4 AI model consumes up to 3 water bottles to generate 100 words.
  • This is amid the rising concern of sufficient power supply to foster sophisticated AI advances in the landscape.
  • Microsoft and OpenAI have been spotted exploring new avenues to avert these critical issues, including constructing new data centers and raising funds for more power supply.                                      

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in tech and AI, I have witnessed the rapid evolution of this industry, but the latest developments surrounding OpenAI’s GPT-4 model have left me both intrigued and concerned. The fact that generating 100 words requires up to three bottles of water is a staggering revelation, especially considering the growing concern over power supply and demand for AI advancements.


Since the debut of ChatGPT by OpenAI in 2022, there have been substantial strides and advancements in AI technology. The AI-driven chatbot garnered considerable attention, with the potential to transform various aspects of our lives. However, upon release, it encountered several critical issues such as occasional episodes of providing incorrect responses due to hallucinations.

The chatbot has noticeably improved, showing fewer and fewer incorrect replies. On the other hand, copyright infringement continues to pose a major challenge for AI models, hindering their full potential. Yet, the use of copyrighted material to educate AI is not explicitly forbidden by copyright law, existing in a somewhat grey area.

Did you know OpenAI’s GPT-4, described as mildly embarrassing at best, consumes up to 3 bottles of water to generate 100 words? This news is according to new research by the University of California first spotted by The Washington Post (via Tom’s Hardware).

In the previous year, it was reported by Jez Corden that both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT use approximately one bottle’s worth of water for cooling with each query, sparking worries about nearby water resources due to growing energy demands needed to drive AI progress. It’s important to note that Google and Microsoft together consume as much power as over 100 countries to maintain their AI developments.

According to a study conducted by the University of California, the water consumption required to generate AI responses varies based on the location and condition of the data center. To give you an idea, Texas was found to use the least amount of water, approximately 235 milliliters for every 100 words produced. Conversely, Washington reported the highest water usage, equivalent to 1,408 milliliters for each 100 words generated by AI.

Cooling water isn’t AI’s only problem

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted GPT-4 "kind of sucks," and now we learn the AI model consumes up to 3 water bottles to generate a mere 100 words

It’s been reported that ChatGPT, operated by OpenAI, costs approximately $700,000 per day to keep functioning. Despite AI technology being a significant focus for many tech giants, it demands substantial resources and financial commitment. However, investors are expressing worries about the high investments in this field, as finding a profitable route remains unclear.

OpenAI faced imminent bankruptcy within a year, projecting losses of approximately $5 billion. Yet, with fresh investment from Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Apple, there’s a possibility that ChatGPT could secure an additional lease on life, potentially boosting its market value to surpass $150 billion.

In other places, there’s additionally the predicament of the supply of AI chips from NVIDIA not keeping up with the demand. To break free from their heavy reliance and excessive dependence on the leading global profit-maker in AI chips, Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly investing up to $100 billion in a new venture named Stargate.

Microsoft has teamed up with BlackRock to amass $100 billion to free themselves from the constraints imposed by insufficient power and expand their data centers for their ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) endeavors. Meanwhile, Elon Musk foresees a major technological leap in AI, but warns that the world may lack sufficient electricity to support its growth by 2025.

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2024-09-20 16:39