What will shock you about AI

As tech companies compete in the AI Revolution, they are rapidly increasing the number of data centers. This expansion requires more fresh water and energy. In 2023, Google used the equivalent of 1/18 of Lake Athabaska to cool its data centers. Microsoft has committed to restarting nuclear reactors, including the Three Mile Island site, to provide energy for its growing AI data centers.

There is much excitement about the potential of AI technologies. Companies like Microsoft, Tesla, and Meta are building large data centers to support their AI systems. However, the environmental impact of this expansion is significant. AI technology relies heavily on data centers that consume a vast amount of energy, which generates heat that needs to be cooled with water.

For example, the colorful pipes in a Google data center are not electrical wires; they are pipes carrying cold, clean water. In 2023, Microsoft’s data centers consumed 7.8 million cubic meters of fresh water, a 34% increase from the previous year. This water needs to be pure to effectively cool and clean technological systems.

When you use AI technology, such as ChatGPT, it consumes fresh water. According to Microsoft’s 2022 annual report, asking ChatGPT 3 between 10 to 55 questions uses around 500 mL of fresh water. It is important to be aware of this environmental impact.

While companies expand their AI initiatives, they are not often discussing this issue. Amazon plans to invest $100 billion over the next decade to build data centers worldwide, which will require extensive energy and water. Recently, they received approval to build two new data centers near Santiago, Chile, a region already facing water stress. Concerns have been raised about where this water will come from, as it may be drawn from local freshwater sources.

In the U.S., Google has three data centers that consume a quarter of the city's water supply where they operate. Many data centers lack regulation regarding their water consumption. Estimates show a midsize data center uses about 300,000 gallons of water daily, equivalent to the consumption of 100,000 homes.

Microsoft has signed a 20-year deal to purchase energy from the dormant Three Mile Island nuclear reactor to meet demands for its data centers. While nuclear energy can be a cleaner option, it is primarily being used for data center operations, not broader energy needs.

AI can lead to breakthroughs in various fields, as demonstrated by AlphaFold, developed by Google DeepMind, which won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This AI can help establish new medicines and advance our understanding of diseases. AI could enhance the efficiency of renewable energy systems.

However, we must also consider the climate crisis and water scarcity. Striking a balance between the benefits of AI and its environmental impact is crucial. As these companies build new data centers, it is essential to ensure they do not cause more harm than good.

Public awareness and transparency about data center operations can help. Companies should be pressured to find ways to reuse water or ensure it benefits productive sectors like agriculture. If the energy for these data centers comes from renewable sources, it may foster innovation and positive advancements.

We seek to enhance our understanding of the relationship between AI technology and data centers so as to forge a way forward for the benefit of all. The advent of AI has revolutionized the landscape and expedited the operations of most cooperates. This means with AI, there will be a creation of new jobs that have never been seen before on the job market, while some job descriptions will have to be modified.