AI's environmental cost includes massive water and power usage

Each query processed by AI tools like ChatGPT requires significant water and electricity for server cooling, contributing to environmental strain, particularly in areas facing resource shortages.

Pranshu Verma and Shelly Tan report for The Washington Post.

In short:

• ChatGPT consumes about 519 milliliters of water to generate a 100-word email, illustrating the hidden environmental costs of AI usage.
• Data centers, essential for AI operation, use enormous amounts of water and energy, depending on regional factors like heat and electricity prices.
• Big tech companies have committed to greener practices, but their water use and carbon emissions continue to rise.

Key quote:

“AI can be energy-intensive and that’s why we are constantly working to improve efficiency.”

— Kayla Wood, spokesperson for OpenAI

Why this matters:

AI's rapidly growing use adds strain to already taxed water and energy supplies, particularly in vulnerable areas. This highlights the need for better sustainable practices in the tech industry to reduce long-term environmental impacts.