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AI is Cool—Literally

But What’s the Cost of Keeping It Chill?

By llaurren's readsPublished about a year ago 3 min read
AI is Cool—Literally
Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash

AI is everywhere these days, from helping us chat with bots like ChatGPT to designing groundbreaking medicines (thanks, AlphaFold!). But here’s a cool fact—literally cool: AI systems don’t just run on electricity. They need a *lot* of water to stay, well, not hot. And while AI may be the tech of the future, the way it’s powered could be a problem for our planet today.

So, buckle up for a quick dive into the surprisingly steamy (and sometimes soggy) world of data centers—the backbone of AI—and what it means for you, me, and our water glasses.

Data Centers: The Unsung Heroes Behind AI

Picture this: every time you ask ChatGPT for a recipe, advice, or just to settle a random argument, somewhere in the world, a server works hard to find that answer. And when servers work hard, they get hot—like *really* hot.

Enter data centers, where thousands (sometimes millions!) of servers hum away. To keep these giant tech hubs from overheating, they need cooling systems that rely on—you guessed it—*freshwater*. Not just any water, though. This water has to be as pure as the kind you’d drink, cook with, or fill a kiddie pool on a sunny day.

Water, Water Everywhere… Or Is It?

Let’s talk numbers (don’t worry, they’re fun). In 2023:

- Google’s data centers slurped up enough freshwater to fill **1/18th of Lake Athabasca.**

- Microsoft’s centers guzzled **7.8 million cubic meters of water**, up 34% from 2022.

And here’s the kicker: asking ChatGPT 10-55 questions uses around **500 mL of water**—the same amount in your average water bottle. Think about that next time you ask me for advice on 10 different dinner ideas!

A Thirsty Tech Race

It’s not just about the water. These data centers also need enormous amounts of energy to run, which is leading companies like Microsoft to consider *nuclear power*. Yes, you heard that right—they’re bringing old reactors like Three Mile Island (remember the partial meltdown in 1978?) back online to power their AI ambitions.

Sounds dramatic? It kind of is. But hey, nuclear energy is cleaner than coal or gas, so it’s a step up… unless you live near one of these data centers.

Take **The Dalles, Oregon**, for example. Google’s three data centers there already use a *quarter* of the city’s water supply. And they’re planning to build two more. Locals? Understandably not thrilled.

Or **Santiago, Chile**, a water-stressed city where Amazon is building two new data centers. People are protesting, asking where this precious freshwater will come from (spoiler alert: it’s probably from their taps).

Why Should We Care?

Let’s get real for a second. Water scarcity is a growing issue, and the climate crisis isn’t taking a vacation. AI has incredible potential to help solve big problems—like making renewable energy more efficient or finding cures for diseases—but the way we power it today could be creating *new* challenges.

So, what’s the solution?

Can We Make AI Less Thirsty?

Here are some ideas:

1. **Recycle That Water:** Companies can innovate ways to reuse cooling water rather than just dumping it out. It’s like using a refillable water bottle—good for the planet, and way cooler (pun intended).

2. **Transparency is Key:** If companies told us how much water they use, we’d be able to hold them accountable. Knowledge is power, after all!

3. **Renewable Energy FTW:** Data centers powered by solar, wind, or even hydroelectric energy would have a smaller environmental footprint.

AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Hopeful

Here’s the thing: AI isn’t all bad! In fact, it’s kind of amazing. Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for instance, has helped scientists predict protein structures, leading to groundbreaking advances in medicine. Imagine a world where AI helps cure diseases, revolutionizes renewable energy, and makes life better for everyone.

But for now, we need to balance AI’s promises with its impact. Every time you chat with AI (hi there 👋), you’re part of a system that’s shaping the future—for better or worse.

What Can You Do?

While we might not be able to single-handedly reduce AI’s water use, we can:

- Stay informed. (Congrats, you’re doing that right now!)

- Support sustainable tech practices.

- Maybe think twice before asking me how to bake bread for the 15th time today.

AI is cool, but it’s up to all of us to make sure it’s sustainable too. Let’s keep the conversation going and push for a tech future that works *with* our planet, not against it.

Got questions? ChatGPT is always there to help—just remember, It might need a sip of water after. 😉

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About the Creator

llaurren's reads

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my collection of journals, articles, diaries, short stories, and more. This is a treasure trove from an author—or rather, a humble writer—whose penmanship was previously tucked away and is now ready to emerge.

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