AI: Google, Microsoft and Meta took and consumed over 2 billion cubic meters of fresh water in 2022
Artificial intelligence it has been a reality for about a year now and the main investments of the major global technological brands are focusing on this new business destined to change many things in people’s everyday lives. But there is one aspect that has been the case up until now very underratedThe Water consumption to run the powerful and huge servers. AI – reports Il Sole 24 ore – it would not exist without massive use of fresh water resources and drinkable: the water is used to cool the mega servers for increasingly powerful computers that must work 24 hours a day without the circuits overheating. On the other hand, artificial intelligence is it key tool to reduce waste. The numbers collected in “Water Intelligence”, the first national report on innovation and digitalisation in the management of the water cycle, created by the Earth and Water Agenda Foundation for the Proger Observatory.
In 2022 Google, Microsoft and Meta – continues Il Sole – they took and consumed over 2 billion cubic meters of fresh waterbetween the 20th and 35% more than previous yearsand in 2027 the demand for generative AI will require withdrawals calculated on average 5.5 billion cubic meters, more than half of what the Italian integrated water system alone withdraws every year (9.5 billion). The technological water footprint of artificial intelligence is estimated to be equal to our daily water needs multiplied by 30: for us Italians it would be worth the theoretical consumption of 7 thousand liters per person per day. The paradox is that thanks to AI it is possible to save on water consumption, many companies use specific applications based on AI to reduce consumption. But on the one hand consumption is reduced and on the other it increases exponentially. One more problem that will soon have to be seriously addressed.
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