During the hottest days on campus, many students carry water with them, whether in a plastic or stainless-steel bottle. This minor decision is equivalent to what you invest when an AI system writes a 500-word assignment for your next class.
Mainstream American technology companies–such as OpenAI, Google and Microsoft–are actively integrating generative AI into their systems, using fresh water as a common resource.
AI data centers use water to cool their systems by a method called “evaporative cooling.” The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) reports that these data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water each day, presenting a significant threat to natural resources.
ULM Assistant Professor of Biology Anastasia Couvillon said that the use of water by AI data centers for cooling purposes can have significant environmental impacts. Couvillon said that this practice might also lead to conflicts over water resources among businesses and communities.
“In regions already experiencing drought or water stress, this can increase competition between industrial users, agriculture, municipal drinking water systems, and aquatic ecosystems,” Couvillon said. “Water quality impacts are also possible because cooling systems may require chemical treatment and discharge wastewater.”
As of writing this article, the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, reported on their official website that OpenAI attracts over 800 million weekly active users who generate daily prompts into their system “ChatGPT.”
The rise in users generating prompts raises concerns about future water scarcity. Sophomore psychology major Ja’Mya Young believes that while AI can effectively solve problems and enhance people’s lives, it must not contribute to the depletion of natural resources.
“I think that since you see so many people using and pushing AI, it feels like we need to have it in our lives,” Young said. “With everything going on in the world, AI should not be the reason we lose our clean drinking water.”
To preserve and protect drinking water, Couvillon said that until regulations are legally in place for AI data centers’ use of water, there are other ways to protect these systems.
“We can all conserve water by reducing use,” Couvillon said. “This is a personal choice, but responsible water use by residents can drastically reduce the risk of water scarcity.”
By limiting the use of AI systems and minimizing water waste, students can take an active role in protecting water resources and reducing pollution.
