AI's thirst for energy and water raises environmental concerns

A new study shows that AI systems consume significant amounts of water and energy to process even basic tasks, with resource demands expected to grow.

Aynsley O'Neill reports for Living on Earth.

In short:

• AI systems require billions of calculations, which generate heat that data centers cool using vast amounts of water.
• Data centers' water consumption in the U.S. already accounts for 2-3% of public water use, with projections rising to 8% by 2030.
• Researchers suggest smaller AI models could reduce resource strain without sacrificing performance.

Key quote:

" ... in the US, roughly 80 to 90% of the water consumption for data centers is coming from the potable water sources."

— Shaolei Ren, UC Riverside

Why this matters:

AI's growing role in daily life comes with a hidden environmental cost. As demand for AI services increases, local water supplies and energy systems could face strain, potentially harming both ecosystems and communities.

Learn more:

• AI's surging power use raises environmental concerns
• AI's hidden energy and water costs remain untracked
• AI's environmental cost includes massive water and power usage