The dry season serves as a constant reminder of how precious water\nresources are. Amidst these conditions, farmers require water for\nirrigation, households rely on it for drinking, cooking, and sanitation,\nwhile the industrial sector and natural ecosystems, such as rivers and\nforests, depend on it to maintain the sustainability of life.<\/p>\n
However, beyond these conventional needs, there is an entity that\nutilises water which is often unnoticed by the wider public: artificial\nintelligence (AI) technology. Generally, the public\u2019s interaction with\napplications such as ChatGPT is perceived as a purely digital,\nfast-paced, and intangible activity, without any visible machinery,\nheat, or water. In reality, behind every query or question sent by a\nuser, there operates a physical infrastructure consisting of\nmassive-capacity computers within data centres.<\/p>\n
Computers equipped with specialised chip processors consume large\namounts of electricity during calculations, which naturally generates\nheat release within the devices. To prevent functional disruptions or\ndamage to computers caused by overheating, data centres rely on cooling\nsystems, whether they are air-based, water-based, specialised\nliquid-based, or advanced direct-to-chip cooling technologies that flow\ncoolant directly to the hottest parts of the machine. This proves that\nAI is not merely a matter of algorithms and software, but is supported\nby physical infrastructure that is highly dependent on electricity and\nwater.<\/p>\n
In the operation of water-based cooling systems, issues regarding\nlocal hydrological dynamics arise. Although some water is recirculated\nrepeatedly, some of it evaporates into the air during the heat\ndissipation process. While this evaporated water remains within the\nEarth\u2019s hydrological cycle and eventually returns as rain, it does not\nnecessarily return to its original location or the initial source of\nextraction. Consequently, the extraction of water from rivers or\ngroundwater can deplete local water availability in the regions where\ndata centres operate.<\/p>\n
In addition to the issue of quantity, water quality issues also\nemerge. Water that is continuously circulated within cooling systems\nwill experience a buildup of mineral content, meaning that some water\n(blowdown) must be discharged and replaced with fresh water. This waste\nwater requires special management or treatment processes before being\ndischarged, as it has a higher concentration of minerals and may contain\nchemicals used to support the performance of the cooling system.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-water-footprint-behind-artificial-intelligence-1789632422", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }