3 ms·

Water consumption of AI is a non-issue. Why even spend research and policymaking resources on this?

by exizt88 2mo ago

sevenzero 2mo ago
Misconception of the year. If you can guarantee the steam it produces rains down in areas that actually re-join the water cycle easily, you might be right (even though you still have to cover the just in time demand). You can not guarantee that though. Best regards, European person where lakes dry out atm.
- boxed 2mo ago
  I think you mean "re-join the FRESHWATER cycle"? Because obviously it rejoins the global water cycle.
- perks_12 2mo ago
  They are not drying up because of AI datacenters and especially not because of European datacenters. While man-made climate change is undoubtedly real, the yearly "our lakes dry up"-media cycle is not proof of it at all. Check if the return to normal in November will make the news.
  - woodpanel 2mo ago
    "Our lakes run dry" is a meme at this point. Apparently the doomers entirely forgot their kvetching about Lago di Garda drying out a couple of years ago. Memory-holed doesn't even closely describe this sort of behavior.
  - sevenzero 2mo ago
    >They are not drying up because of AI datacenters I am aware and never claimed that. Though, the global push towards mega factories, data centers and whatnot does not help the situation. Lots of places here in Germany already struggle with having enough water, so the mindset to "lets just build a Tesla mega factory here" is something I never understood. Can't be that different for data centers. We should use our resources smartly, not for profit margins.
    - constantius 2mo ago
      > I am aware and never claimed that Your comment very much implies a strong link between the two however. That you then switch from data centres to factories is also a shift that is not related to the discussion at hand. Personally, everything I've read on the issue indicates that the water usage, for a product that I hear mentioned daily by people in the street, is insignificant. I have many qualms with AI, mainly about the politics of AI labs and its effects on inequality, and I am active in this field. But I see its environmental costs as a weak argument and don't use it, despite of how receptive people that I try to convince are to it: it uses much less energy, harms many fewer animals, and serves more of a purpose than animal agriculture, so I prefer to move my environmental actions towards that.
- DonHopkins 2mo ago
  Well the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC dried up two times in a row recently, and although there is no direct video evidence, there is a highly credible witness who blames it on almonds and windmills.
trolleski 2mo ago
For who?
skerit 2mo ago
I think one of the more interesting points is this: > Two-thirds of post-2022 data centers are located in water-stressed regions. I don't think it's wrong to ask questions about that _IF_ you also ask questions about all the other usages of water, like the Californian almond stuff. Just saying "You shouldn't use AI because it uses too much water" is kind of ridiculous.
- DonHopkins 2mo ago
  That's totally nuts Almond Slop! You're using up all the water by gobbling macaroons and marzipan.
Intralexical 2mo ago
...I don't think you can declare that something is a non-issue without having spent at least some resources to determine whether it is?

Water consumption of AI is a non-issue. Why even spend research and policymaking resources on this?

by exizt88 2mo ago

Water consumption of AI is a non-issue. Why even spend research and policymaking resources on this?

Misconception of the year. If you can guarantee the steam it produces rains down in areas that actually re-join the water cycle easily, you might be right (even though you still have to cover the just in time demand). You can not guarantee that though. Best regards, European person where lakes dry out atm.

boxed 2mo ago
I think you mean "re-join the FRESHWATER cycle"? Because obviously it rejoins the global water cycle.
perks_12 2mo ago
They are not drying up because of AI datacenters and especially not because of European datacenters. While man-made climate change is undoubtedly real, the yearly "our lakes dry up"-media cycle is not proof of it at all. Check if the return to normal in November will make the news.
- woodpanel 2mo ago
  "Our lakes run dry" is a meme at this point. Apparently the doomers entirely forgot their kvetching about Lago di Garda drying out a couple of years ago. Memory-holed doesn't even closely describe this sort of behavior.
- sevenzero 2mo ago
  >They are not drying up because of AI datacenters I am aware and never claimed that. Though, the global push towards mega factories, data centers and whatnot does not help the situation. Lots of places here in Germany already struggle with having enough water, so the mindset to "lets just build a Tesla mega factory here" is something I never understood. Can't be that different for data centers. We should use our resources smartly, not for profit margins.
  - constantius 2mo ago
    > I am aware and never claimed that Your comment very much implies a strong link between the two however. That you then switch from data centres to factories is also a shift that is not related to the discussion at hand. Personally, everything I've read on the issue indicates that the water usage, for a product that I hear mentioned daily by people in the street, is insignificant. I have many qualms with AI, mainly about the politics of AI labs and its effects on inequality, and I am active in this field. But I see its environmental costs as a weak argument and don't use it, despite of how receptive people that I try to convince are to it: it uses much less energy, harms many fewer animals, and serves more of a purpose than animal agriculture, so I prefer to move my environmental actions towards that.
DonHopkins 2mo ago
Well the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC dried up two times in a row recently, and although there is no direct video evidence, there is a highly credible witness who blames it on almonds and windmills.

trolleski 2mo ago

For who?

skerit 2mo ago

I think one of the more interesting points is this: > Two-thirds of post-2022 data centers are located in water-stressed regions. I don't think it's wrong to ask questions about that _IF_ you also ask questions about all the other usages of water, like the Californian almond stuff. Just saying "You shouldn't use AI because it uses too much water" is kind of ridiculous.

DonHopkins 2mo ago
That's totally nuts Almond Slop! You're using up all the water by gobbling macaroons and marzipan.

Intralexical 2mo ago

...I don't think you can declare that something is a non-issue without having spent at least some resources to determine whether it is?