OpenAI Inc.
AI LabLegal name: OpenAI Inc. · HQ: US · Private · Founded 2015
Developer of GPT and o-series models. Primary compute infrastructure is provided by Microsoft Azure. No independent environmental disclosures have been published; environmental data is not attributable from Microsoft's aggregate reporting.
Disclosure Quality
Score
0/100
Transparency Grade
T-5
near-total opacity
Grades run T-1 (most transparent) to T-5 (least transparent).
Red flags identified (4)
- RF-01 · Total energy consumption not disclosed
- RF-02 · A greenhouse-gas emissions scope not disclosed
- RF-03 · Water withdrawal not disclosed
- RF-04 · AI-specific energy use not disclosed
See the disclosure audit below for details.
Fiscal year 2023. Score computed from OpenButterfly T1–T6 disclosure framework audit. Confidence tier: C (Estimated, Documented Method).
Environmental Metrics
Fiscal year 2026. Each metric is shown at its most recent available year; rows from a different year are marked.
Confidence tiers: A measured and verified · B company-reported · C documented estimate · D uncertain estimate · E modeled · ND not disclosed.
Total Energy Consumption
23.7 TWh
≈ the annual electricity use of 2.3 million US homes
method: known_capacity_model
Source: OpenButterfly pipeline
AI-Specific EnergyFY 2023
Not DisclosedNDchecked 2025-05-23AI-specific energy not disclosed.
Scope 1 Emissions
173 kt CO₂e
≈ the annual emissions of 38,000 passenger cars
method: scope1_ratio_model
Source: OpenButterfly pipeline
Scope 2 Emissions (market-based)
5.19 Mt CO₂e
≈ the annual emissions of 1.1 million passenger cars
method: grid_carbon_model
Source: OpenButterfly pipeline
Scope 3 Emissions
13.24 Mt CO₂e
≈ the annual emissions of 2.9 million passenger cars
method: scope3_ratio_model
Source: OpenButterfly pipeline
Water Withdrawal
29.6 GL
≈ 12,000 Olympic swimming pools of water
method: wue_model
Source: OpenButterfly pipeline
Property-Line Noise (estimated)
~57.2 dBA at property line
method: cooling_load_noise_model
Source: OpenButterfly pipeline
Disclosure Audit
Show 5 disclosure checks (T1–T6 framework)
Total electricity consumption disclosed
No sustainability report published.
RF-01 (Total energy consumption not disclosed)
Scope 1 GHG emissions disclosed
No sustainability report published.
RF-02 (A greenhouse-gas emissions scope not disclosed)
Total water withdrawal disclosed
No sustainability report published.
RF-03 (Water withdrawal not disclosed)
AI-specific energy consumption disclosed
No sustainability report published.
RF-04 (AI-specific energy use not disclosed)
GHG accounting methodology documented
No sustainability report published.
Sources
- OpenAI website — no sustainability report found· journalism · trust: low · accessed 2025-05-23
No sustainability report or environmental disclosure found as of research date.