A new study from the University of California, Riverside reveals that ChatGPT’s computer systems consume approximately two liters of water for 10-50 queries, four times more than previously estimated. The research, to be published in Communications of the ACM, shows that data centers require substantial water for cooling their AI servers, which generate intense heat during operation. Major tech companies including Google, Microsoft, and Meta have reported significant increases in water consumption, with some pledging to become “water positive” by 2030. Industry experts warn that new data centers in Britain could require as much water as a city of 500,000 people, while companies are exploring alternative cooling technologies and efficiency measures to address this growing environmental concern. Source: The Times