Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often celebrated for its transformative power, but there’s growing concern about its environmental impact, particularly its water consumption. Respected publications, including Forbes, have highlighted the substantial water needs of AI systems. But before we panic and pull the plug on our digital assistants, let’s take a closer look. AI’s water usage deserves attention, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. After all, AI offers significant benefits—especially in education—and its water footprint is often smaller than you might think.
How Does AI Use Water?
The water footprint of AI is largely connected to the data centres that power its algorithms. These centres house thousands of servers that store and process vast amounts of data. To keep these servers running smoothly, cooling is essential, and this is where a substantial amount of water is consumed.
For example, every time you ask an AI to draft an email or recommend a playlist, data is processed in one of these centres. That processing—depending on complexity—requires energy and, indirectly, water. Some estimates suggest that a single large AI model can use enough water to fill several Olympic-sized swimming pools during its training phase. And yes, that’s a lot of water. But is it really worse than everything else we do?
Why Are People Worried About AI’s Water Usage?
So, data centres often rely on evaporative cooling systems, which use water to absorb heat and release it into the atmosphere. Time Magazine claims (in an article from 2020), Google’s data centres use billions of gallons of water to cool their servers every year. That was before the emergence of AI.
- Scale and Growth: AI use is expanding rapidly. More users and more advanced models mean more water for cooling. The concern is that as demand grows, so will the strain on water resources, especially in areas where water is already scarce.
- Energy Dependency: Many data centres still rely on non-renewable energy sources. Since power plants consume water for cooling, there’s a knock-on effect, with water usage compounding at multiple levels.
- Resource Management: While some water used in data centres can be recycled, a portion is lost through evaporation. This raises questions about sustainability in the long term.
AI’s water consumption isn’t just limited to cooling data centres. The production of AI hardware—such as the mining of raw materials, manufacturing, and device assembly—also requires significant amounts of water. As the demand for computing power grows, so too will the need for water to support AI infrastructure.
Sustainability Concerns As AI continues to expand, particularly in data-heavy tasks like machine learning, the environmental impact, especially in water-scarce regions, could be alarming (source: International Energy Agency).
How Does AI’s Water Usage Compare to Everyday Activities?
Let’s put AI’s water consumption into perspective:
- Streaming a 2-hour movie: ~6 litres of water (for data centre cooling).
- Listening to an audiobook (1 hour): ~1 litre of water.
- Browsing the internet (1 hour): ~0.5 litres of water.
Now compare these to everyday tasks:
- Taking a 10-minute shower: ~95 litres of water.
- Flushing the toilet (once): ~6-12 litres of water.
- Making a cup of coffee: ~130 litres of water (including farming and processing).
- Eating a hamburger: ~2,400 litres of water (from growing feed crops to cooking).
So, while AI’s water use is significant, it pales in comparison to some of our daily habits. Streaming a movie uses about as much water as flushing the toilet, and listening to an audiobook is less water-intensive than washing a plate.
AI tools, such as virtual classrooms, learning platforms, and tutoring services, are becoming increasingly common in education. While these technologies offer tremendous benefits, including personalised learning experiences, they also contribute to increased water demand.
Every time you talk to ChatGPT it drinks 500ml of water: Read full article on Business Today
What Can We Do?
- Download Instead of Streaming: Streaming repeatedly requires constant data retrieval, while downloading once and using offline saves energy and water. (Pro tip: Check out our audiobooks on RockfordsRockOpera.com. Downloading them means you’ll enjoy an eco-friendly adventure while saving water!)
- Optimise Your Usage: Use AI tools responsibly. Don’t ask your AI assistant to write sonnets about your cat’s sleeping habits unless it’s really necessary (no judgement, though!).
- Educate and Innovate: Encourage awareness about the environmental impact of technology. Support innovations that improve water recycling and reduce dependency on fossil fuels in tech infrastructure.
- Choose Eco-Friendly Platforms: Support companies that use renewable energy and efficient cooling systems in their data centres.
- Read our page with tips to Save Water.
The Big Picture
AI is here to stay, and its benefits—especially in education—are undeniable. From personalised learning to accessible audiobooks, AI is changing lives for the better. Yes, its water consumption is worth considering, but when compared to our everyday activities, it’s a drop in the bucket (pun intended). By adopting mindful habits and supporting sustainable technology, we can enjoy the benefits of AI without putting undue strain on our planet.
So, the next time you’re enjoying an audiobook or using AI to solve a tricky homework problem, remember: it’s all about balance. Let’s embrace innovation while staying conscious of our environmental impact. And if you really want to minimise your footprint, download our audiobooks—they’re great for the planet and even better for your imagination!
Download our FREE Animated Audiobook for all the family.
All four parts of Lost on Infinity (animated adventure on apps) are absolutely FREE on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Suitable for listeners of all ages. Download them all now and embark on an unforgettable adventure that celebrates the power of nature and the importance of protecting all living things.
Resources for Teachers and Families:
In addition to our audiobooks, our website also provides a wealth of free resources for educators and parents, including lesson plans, slides, and information on endangered species. These materials can be used to supplement your child’s learning experience and further deepen their understanding of extinction and conservation.
Download our FREE lesson plans and slides about Extinction and Biomimicry. We also have a selection of classroom activities on our website.
For even more exploration of the natural world, tune in to our Stories, Science & Secrets podcast for kids. Join Matthew, Elaine, Steve Punt and special guests, as we delve into the fascinating world of biomimicry and the inspiring ways science learns from nature’s genius. Remember it’s better to download the podcast and listen offline, instead of streaming.