--- description: ChatGPT’s Thirsty Data Centers are draining Water Resources: Microsoft used a massive 185,000 gallons of water while training GPT-3. title: ChatGPT's Thirsty Data Centers are draining Water Resources - Energy Theory image: https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ChatGPTs-Thirsty-Data-Centers-are-draining-Water-Resources.jpg --- [ Close Menu ](#) * [About](https://energytheory.com/about-us/) * [EV](https://energytheory.com/category/electric-vehicles/) * [FAQs](https://energytheory.com/category/faqs/) * [Glossary](https://energytheory.com/category/glossary/) * [Green](https://energytheory.com/category/green/) * [Renewable](https://energytheory.com/category/renewable/) * [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) * [Energy Economy](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-economy/) * [Energy Services](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-services/) * [Solar](https://energytheory.com/category/solar/) * [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) * [News](https://energytheory.com/category/latest-news/) * [Language](#) [ ![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png) ](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg)English [![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish](#) [![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French](#) [![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English](#) [![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian](#) [![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified)](#) [![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch](#) [![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish](#) [![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German](#) [![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi](#) [![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese](#) [![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish](#) [![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese](#) [![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian](#) [ ![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png) ](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg)English [![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish](#) [![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French](#) [![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English](#) [![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian](#) [![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified)](#) [![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch](#) [![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish](#) [![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German](#) [![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi](#) [![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese](#) [![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish](#) [![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese](#) [![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian](#) [Latest News](https://energytheory.com/category/latest-news/) # ChatGPT’s Thirsty Data Centers are draining Water Resources By [Elliot Clark](https://energytheory.com/author/elliot%5Fclark/)November 17, 20232 Mins Read ![ChatGPT’s Thirsty Data Centers are draining Water Resources](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ChatGPTs-Thirsty-Data-Centers-are-draining-Water-Resources-1024x683.jpg "ChatGPT’s Thirsty Data Centers are draining Water Resources") According to researchers from the University of Colorado Riverside and the University of Texas Arlington, ChatGPT’s thirsty data centers are draining water resources heavily. They examined the environmental effects of AI training in a recent paper titled Making AI Less Thirsty. Researchers have investigated how much water is needed to cool data processing centers used by companies like [OpenAI](https://openai.com/) and Google. They discovered that when training GPT-3, Microsoft, which works with OpenAI, **used a massive 185,000 gallons of water**. This is the same amount of water needed to cool a [nuclear](https://energytheory.com/us-japan-team-successfully-completes-innovative-h2-boron-plasma-nuclear-fusion-technology-test/) reactor, according to their calculations. The ChatGPT system needs to use the same amount of water as a 500 ml bottle for a short conversation of around 20-50 questions and answers. Even though one bottle doesn’t seem like a lot, when you add up all the people who use [ChatGPT](https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt) by OpenAI, it ends up using a lot of water. To find out ChatGPT’s thirsty data centers are draining water resources, a **system to calculate the quantity of freshwater used for cooling servers** and producing [energy](https://energytheory.com/what-is-energy-j/) to power data center servers was created by the researchers. Researchers mention that the amount of water the big computer systems use might get even bigger when the next-gen [GPT-4](https://openai.com/product/gpt-4) gets launched fully. But it’s hard to know for sure because there isn’t much information available about it yet. They want the firms who make these systems to tell everyone more about how much water they use and what they are doing to use less water. This data can play a crucial part in solving the global water crisis. The AI chatbot ChatGPT from OpenAI, which can react to a variety of **user inquiries in human-like language**, rose to fame last year. It has accomplished impressive achievements in a short amount of time, including the capacity to summarize academic topics and respond to logical inquiries. Additionally, it has failed college-level tests for medical school and business schools. **Source:** [Research Paper “Making AI Drink Less Water”](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03271.pdf) Share. 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With a background in environmental science, he has a deep understanding of the issues facing our planet and is committed to educating others on how they can make a difference. #### Related Posts [![31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/31.6-300x200.webp "31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE")](https://energytheory.com/31-6-efficient-perovskite-silicon-tandem-solar-cell-by-fraunhofer-ise/ "31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE") #### [31.6% Efficient Perovskite Silicon Tandem Solar Cell by Fraunhofer ISE](https://energytheory.com/31-6-efficient-perovskite-silicon-tandem-solar-cell-by-fraunhofer-ise/) September 27, 2024 [![24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24.2-Efficient-POLO-Back-Junction-Solar-Cell-Built-with-PECVD-by-ISFH-and-Centrotherm-Scientists-300x200.webp "24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists")](https://energytheory.com/24-2-efficient-polo-back-junction-solar-cell-built-with-pecvd-by-isfh-and-centrotherm-scientists/ "24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists") #### [24.2% Efficient POLO Back Junction Solar Cell Built with PECVD by ISFH and Centrotherm Scientists](https://energytheory.com/24-2-efficient-polo-back-junction-solar-cell-built-with-pecvd-by-isfh-and-centrotherm-scientists/) September 25, 2024 [![New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/New-Walkable-PV-Panels-by-Hungary-based-Platio-Solar-300x200.webp "New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar")](https://energytheory.com/new-walkable-pv-panels-by-hungary-based-platio-solar/ "New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar") #### [New Walkable PV Panels by Hungary-based Platio Solar](https://energytheory.com/new-walkable-pv-panels-by-hungary-based-platio-solar/) September 24, 2024 [Add A Comment ](#) Leave A Reply [Cancel Reply](https://energytheory.com/chatgpts-thirsty-data-centers-are-draining-water-resources/#respond) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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