AI is set to consume up to 600 billion gallons of water by 2030 — rising energy consumption primarily to blame as data center power demands rise
AI's burgeoning energy demands are projected to cause a significant increase in global water consumption, potentially reaching 600 billion gallons annually by 2030. This surge is primarily driven by the electricity required to power data centers and manufacture AI hardware, rather than direct cooling systems. While still less than agricultural use, AI's water footprint is rapidly growing and approaching that of the oil refining industry, raising concerns for communities facing water scarcity. AI
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