A gas diffusion vacuum device includes a supply of gas, a nonpermeable enclosure, a supply of liquid, an open liquid reservoir and a gas permeable cover. A first end of the nonpermeable enclosure is retained in the open liquid reservoir. The volume of gas is supplied through a side wall of the nonpermeable enclosure. The gas is preferably carbon dioxide. The gas permeable cover preferably includes a diffusion barrier and a porous diffusion barrier support. The diffusion barrier is wrapped over the porous diffusion barrier support and secured to a side wall of the nonpermeable enclosure. As the gas diffuses through the gas permeable cover, a vacuum is created to raise a column of liquid. A second embodiment of the gas diffusion vacuum device includes a supply of gas, a nonpermeable enclosure and a gas permeable cover. A vacuum created is used to perform work with an air driven device.