In its latest environmental report, Microsoft disclosed that its global water consumption spiked 34% from 2021 to 2022 (to nearly 1.7 billion gallons, or more than 2,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools), a sharp increase compared to previous years.
Google reported a 20% growth in water use in the same period.
What is the cause of this sudden spike in water consumption for these tech companies?
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Generative AI
In a paper due to be published later this year, a research team is estimating that ChatGPT gulps up 500 milliliters of water every time you ask it a series of between 5 to 50 prompts or questions. The range varies depending on where its servers are located and the season. The estimate includes indirect water usage that the companies don’t measure — such as to cool power plants that supply the data centers with electricity.
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