Environmental Impact of ChatGPT: Linked to Los Angeles Wildfires Debate

The devastating wildfires raging through Los Angeles have killed 25 people, torched more than 12,000 structures, and displaced nearly 100,000. The blazes have charred more than 17,200 acres, touching off intense battles over climate policy, water policy, and how to upgrade California’s infrastructure. And in the middle of it all, an unexpected issue has come to the forefront: the environmental footprint of AI systems such as ChatGPT.

Energy and Water Consumption by ChatGPT

The relationship between ChatGPT and the LA wildfires seems remote, but it is actually based on the environmental impact of AI models. Any online activity, be it the use of AI, uses a lot of energy. A Goldman Sachs report points out that a single ChatGPT query consumes 2.9 watt-hours of electricity, which is almost 10 times more than an ordinary Google search.

 

This energy consumption results in a larger carbon footprint, which accelerates climate change. Rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells, both exacerbated by climate change, create the conditions for wildfires, especially when combined with high winds.

UC Riverside associate professor Shaolei Ren further explains the environmental toll of AI. Writing just one email with ChatGPT consumes 17 ounces of water. When scaled up across millions of users, the impact becomes significant. AI-powered systems are responsible for a 29% increase in emissions, according to Microsoft, while Google reported a 48% surge in emissions over five years, largely due to AI-powered data centers.

How Does AI Use Water?

AI models such as ChatGPT require a tremendous amount of computing power to process vast amounts of human-written text. This computing power generates heat, which requires cooling systems to prevent data centers from overheating. These cooling systems often rely on large amounts of water to regulate temperatures and ensure smooth operations.

 

According to environmental law expert Mia Montoya Hammersley, water is an essential coolant for AI servers. When the water gets warm, these servers crash. The systems are crucial to maintaining operations at these data centers, but skyrocketing water demands, especially in water-conscious areas like California, just do not work.

The connection between AI and LA wildfires is indirect yet relevant

It’s essential to note that ChatGPT didn’t ignite the LA wildfires and did not cause water shortages in the city directly. The primary reason the firefighters were experiencing a shortage of water was that the city’s water infrastructure wasn’t built to manage such massive-scale emergencies. Hydrants in Pacific Palisades ran dry because of the high demand, not due to AI-driven water usage.

The environmental impact of AI is, however, relevant to the discussions regarding the wildfires. The fact that California continues to be under drought conditions worsens the additional pressure that its water systems face from energy and water consumption by AI technologies. Part of the system was never really designed to suppress a fire the size of one of these massive blazes; in fact, certainly not a line of fires in quick succession,” observed Martin Adams, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power former general manager.

The Shifting Debate: AI and Climate Change

Though AI models like ChatGPT do not cause the LA wildfires, they are part of a bigger conversation on the environmental impact of new technologies. As AI usage increases, so does its carbon and water footprint. Experts have called for more efficient energy usage and water management in the tech industry as the global community struggles with the challenges of climate change and resource management.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has recognized these concerns and is committed to improving the energy efficiency of its systems. As climate change continues to impact communities around the world, it will be even more important to understand the full environmental impact of emerging technologies like AI.