AI’s Hidden Thirst: The Water Behind Tech

Have you ever wondered what happens if you ask AI to create an image, write a poem, or draft an email?
Most of us picture “the cloud” working its magic in a distant location. The twist is that the cloud is physical, real, and thirsty. Data centers require water, sometimes millions of gallons per day, to stay cool while AI is operating.

By 2025, it is impossible to overlook AI’s growing water footprint. But don’t worry, AI isn’t to blame here. It’s about comprehending the problem, the ingenious ways technology is attempting to solve it, and what we (as humans) can do to improve the situation.

Why does AI need water?

Doesn’t your laptop heat up quickly when you run it on overdrive for hours? Now multiply that by millions of machines that are constantly in operation and stacked in enormous warehouses. A data centre ...