How much of a problem is AI’s water use?

Data centers used for artificial intelligence training and operations consume significant amounts of water for cooling systems. The quantity varies based on the type of cooling technology used and the geographic location of the facility, with some regions experiencing greater water stress than others. Microsoft reported in 2024 that its data centers globally used 6.2 billion gallons of water that year. Researchers have measured water consumption ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 liters per AI inference, depending on the cooling method and local water availability.

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