this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2025
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AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
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Agriculture uses so much more water. Just so we can grow corn so it can be turned into ethanol. "AI" uses so much more energy though. and it'll only get worse, the more "advanced" the llms become, the more energy they're going to require.
And creating energy is also using large amounts of water.
it typically uses non-potable water though, and that water is then typically evaporated as steam which then in precipitated back down, or it's directly routed back into the stream it came from, which is the case in hydroelectric systems
The water that's returned is significantly warmer though, which can have some pretty large effects on the local environment.
that is true
Energy use is a more real concern, yes.
there are entire cities facing water crisis already. water is going to be a huge concern going forward.
https://news.arizona.edu/news/phoenix-sees-increase-people-living-without-running-water-new-analysis-shows
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kavehmadani/2025/12/03/6-big-questions-about-irans-water-crisis-and-tehrans-day-zero/
https://wetravelwebond.com/13-u-s-cities-on-the-brink-of-a-water-crisis/
don't believe the 'it's only a tiny bit of water' bullshit
Most of the water used by "AI" is in energy generation though, so you're both right.
to me it's simply not an either:or it's an yes:and
the utility customers of these municipalities aren't being told about the construction of AI data centers, because so many come with NDA strings.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/data-center-ai-google-amazon-nda-non-disclosure-agreement-colossus-rcna236423
we don't have infinite potable water. it's going to come from municipal supplies. they're going to stick the cost to these communities, and probably stress cities that are already water-fucked even more:
https://wetravelwebond.com/13-u-s-cities-on-the-brink-of-a-water-crisis/
I suggest you read the article I posted, or if you don't feel like reading, maybe listening to what's being said in the YouTube video.
There are some very real concerns with everything happening around AI. Water is quite simply not one of them. Focus your energy on criticisms based in reality.
I'd already seen Green's video. I agree it's a small thing compared to the power, but in a world obviously running out of easily accessible potable water, it's only going to exacerbate problems for the communities that are already being hit by the relentless power costs due to AI as well.
This isn't a one or the other thing. They'll need water for cooling. It's not recycled. it's got to be clean, potable water.
we do not live in an infinite muni-water supply.
And it depends on the area. Dude with the blog post isn't considering the many areas with real scarcity. The water, it's pollution, etc. are a very real threat to many ecosystems and people.
yuuuup.
https://news.arizona.edu/news/phoenix-sees-increase-people-living-without-running-water-new-analysis-shows
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kavehmadani/2025/12/03/6-big-questions-about-irans-water-crisis-and-tehrans-day-zero/
https://wetravelwebond.com/13-u-s-cities-on-the-brink-of-a-water-crisis/