The invisible cost of technology. Data centers consume billions of gallons of water. Discover the connection. AI consumes water, but it can also help conserve it. Learn how technology is looking for solutions to the water crisis. Did you know your interaction with AI has a direct impact on the environment? The rise of AI is linked to massive water consumption. #WaterCrisis #SustainableTech #AIandWater
00:02The Alarming Water Consumption of Tech Giants
00:05Welcome, today we re-exploring an unexpected but crucial connection,
00:10the relationship between artificial intelligence and massive water consumption.
00:14What began as a niche technology has become a fundamental part of large companies,
00:19but at a significant environmental cost.
00:22Data centers, which house the necessary infrastructure for AI,
00:26are at the heart of this problem.
00:27These tech giants are filled with Eden City servers and hardware
00:31that generate an immense amount of heat.
00:33To prevent failures, they need industrial-scale cooling systems that largely depend on water.
00:39A single data center can consume millions of gallons of water annually,
00:43an amount comparable to a small city.
00:45The latest figures are alarming.
00:48Between 2021 and 2022, Microsoft's water consumption increased by 34%,
00:54reaching almost 1.7 billion gallons.
00:57In the same period, Google saw its consumption soar by 22%,
01:01reaching an astonishing 5.56 billion gallons.
01:05This increase coincides directly with the rise of generative AI,
01:09which began with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.
01:13Training these massive models requires a colossal amount of energy and, therefore,
01:18water to cool the facilities.
01:19It's estimated that every 5 to 50 interactions with ChatGPT consume approximately half a liter of water.
01:27This insatiable consumption is creating real problems in communities already facing water scarcity.
01:33In the Dalles, Oregon, a Google data center is responsible for more than a quarter of the city's total water consumption,
01:39causing concern among residents and farmers.
01:41In the Netherlands, Microsoft faced a scandal for consuming four times more water than declared during a drought.
01:48And in Germany, Google was denied permits for a new data center due to fears of excessive water consumption.
01:54This situation is not just a local challenge.
01:57It aligns with the global water crisis.
01:59The World Wildlife Federation forecasts that 66% of the world's S population will face water shortages by next year.
02:08Water is a precious and limited resource.
02:11But it's not all bad news.
02:12The same technology that creates the problem is helping to find solutions.
02:17Companies like Vialya are using AI to optimize energy and water use,
02:21recycle waste, and improve predictive maintenance.
02:24They offer solutions that allow data centers to drastically reduce their water consumption.
02:28In Illinois, a data center managed to cut its water consumption in half, saving 12 million gallons annually.
02:36In Virginia, another data center saved more than $100,000 per year by eliminating the need for hard water softening.
02:43The path forward requires careful collaboration to meet the needs of data centers in a responsible and sustainable way.
02:51The debate is open.
02:53Are we prepared for the real cost of artificial intelligence?
02:56It's not about whether AI will drain our oceans, but about how we can ensure it doesn't deplete the freshwater resources that sustain our communities.
03:09The debate is open.
03:11Are we prepared for the real cost of artificial intelligence?
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