The burgeoning field of generative artificial intelligence (AI), exemplified by tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT, is bringing to light a critical environmental concern: the increasing water footprint of major technology companies.
What Happened: A study led by Shaolei Ren, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside, delved into the water consumption required to operate these advanced AI models.
Ren's research discovered that ChatGPT consumes about 500 milliliters for every 10 to 50 user prompts, which varies based on the model's deployment specifics.
This data highlights the significant water usage by AI technologies, considering the vast number of users these platforms attract. CNBC reports that, if not addressed, the escalating water footprint of AI could hinder the technology's sustainable and ethical application.
Big Tech's Water Usage
Technology giants such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Alphabet-owned Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) have reported significant increases in water usage, primarily attributed to the demands of AI development. The necessity of water for cooling data centers, which are crucial for AI operations, is a primary factor in this surge.
For instance, Microsoft's water consumption escalated by over a third from 2021 to 2022, amounting to nearly 1.7 ...