According to new research, annual water consumption of artificial intelligence systems has reached up to 765 billion liters. This huge consumption, which may even exceed the amount of bottled water consumed worldwide, reveals the toll artificial intelligence imposes on the environment. According to Dutch researcher Alex de Vries-Gao’s study published in the journal Patterns, the estimated water consumption of artificial intelligence systems varies between 312.5 billion and 764.6 billion liters. A significant part of artificial intelligence’s water needs comes from huge data centers that are invisible to users. High-performance processors that perform billions of operations produce intense heat. While the cooling systems used to prevent servers from overheating consume large amounts of water, a significant part of the main load comes from the energy facilities that provide electricity to data centers.
SCARY PREDICTION
According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the total annual water consumption of data centers around the world is approximately 560 billion liters. About two-thirds of this is linked to energy production and supply. In other words, the water bill of artificial intelligence is growing not only in the buildings where the servers are located, but also in the facilities where electricity is produced. The most striking prediction is for the next four years. According to IEA’s projection, annual water consumption of all data centers could reach 1.2 trillion liters in 2030. This figure is more than double the current level.
DEMAND WILL INCREASE
According to the agency’s calculations, a large data center with a capacity of 100 megawatts in the USA can consume approximately 2 million liters of water per day, including electricity production. This amount is equivalent to the daily consumption of approximately 6,500 households. Moreover, with the introduction of new data centers globally, the demand for water is expected to increase.
CHAT HAS A COST
Questions posed to artificial intelligence also have an indirect water cost. In previous academic calculations, It has been stated that under certain conditions, a conversation containing 20-50 questions and answers can be associated with the consumption of approximately half a liter of water.. The size of the model used, the region where the data center is located, air temperature and energy source consumption directly affect it.
Important warnings from experts!
PROBLEMS ARE INCREASING
Water Policy Association President Dursun Yıldız points out that the widespread use of artificial intelligence technologies increases the pressure on water resources. The fact that data centers established especially in regions with water shortages require the same resources as agricultural, industrial and residential areas brings new problems.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY MUST BE PROVIDED
In Yıldız’s evaluation, it is emphasized that closed-circuit cooling systems should be widespread, energy efficiency should be increased, data centers should be located taking into account water resources, and technology companies should transparently disclose their consumption figures. It is stated that with the growth of digital technologies, water consumption will become one of the main topics of sustainability policies.
