I've been curious about how AI systems use water, especially since I've heard that chatbots like ChatGPT can use a significant amount of water per interaction. I get that water cooling devices are involved, but I'm puzzled about why this is considered a negative aspect. I mean, doesn't the water circulate in a closed loop? If it doesn't, wouldn't the evaporated water simply condense again later? I really need help understanding this!
1 Answer
The concern isn't about closed-loop systems; the issue arises from some data centers opting for evaporative cooling instead of traditional HVAC systems. With evaporative cooling, the water just goes into the air, which can be problematic given how AI is growing. Most places still use HVAC, but the trend towards evaporative cooling could turn into a big issue. While using seawater for cooling is more eco-friendly, it's also more complicated and expensive. It's similar to how swamp coolers work!
Thanks for your reply. Wouldn't the evaporated water eventually return to the hydrologic cycle?