The rapid technological race is leading to a sharp depletion of natural resources. A new study published in the journal "Patterns" reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) systems today pose unprecedented threats not only to energy but also to drinking water resources.
Energy consumption: Surpassing Malaysia
The energy demand of artificial intelligence systems is growing exponentially year by year.
- 2024: 5.3–9.4 GW of power.
- End of 2025: Growth to 23 GW (annual 201.5 terawatt-hours).
If artificial intelligence were a country, it would rank 25th in the world in terms of energy consumption, surpassing Malaysia, which has a population of 38 million, and aligning with Egypt.
ChatGPT and a glass of "water"
When we casually ask ChatGPT a question, we rarely think about the resources involved in generating its response. Research shows that the amount of water consumed for a single query-response process is equivalent to the daily drinking water requirement of one person.
Massive data centers that power artificial intelligence require millions of liters of water for cooling. This water evaporates in cooling systems, exacerbating "water shortages" in agricultural, industrial, and residential areas. Currently, AI systems "consume" more resources than all of humanity drinks from bottled water combined.
The "iron chest" secrets of tech giants
Companies like Google and Apple may present their environmental reports in a favorable light, but they remain silent on the pumps and evaporators operating in their data centers. Amazon, in particular, has faced criticism for keeping the resource impact of its data centers under wraps.
By 2028, it is forecasted that the United States alone may face a 35-gigawatt electricity shortfall. The biggest burden will fall on artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Physical limits and the future
The unchecked growth of technology is colliding with the physical limits of nature. Sooner or later, local governments and regulatory agencies will be forced to say "no" to building new centers due to energy and water shortages. The fate of the artificial intelligence race will inevitably depend on one critical resource: plain water.
Do you think sacrificing natural resources on this scale for technological progress is justified?
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