How big of a problem is AI's water use?
Ars Technica AI · rss · 2026-08-27
Residents across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are protesting the rapid expansion of data centers for AI, citing concerns over water use, energy consumption, and pollution. While energy consumption is undisputed, water usage is more complex. Online claims vary wildly, and data from big tech companies is often incomplete and inconsistent.
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