AI systems themselves don’t inherently require large amounts of water. The water use comes from data center cooling design choices. Closed-loop liquid cooling systems can minimize water consumption, and large bodies of water like lakes, rivers, or the sea can serve as effective heat sinks.

So, high water usage is not a technical necessity of AI. It’s just cheaper and easier to ignore mother nature. Especially when you are in a race against the other AI companies.

If the US had not given up on saving the climate, laws for environmental protection could have helped.

The actual source is War and Peas. Hilarious webcomic. Support the artists if you can.

I like this sentiment, but why are they queuing for the pump with a water jug already full with water?