Research is being conducted to quantify the environmental impact of AI tools, with preliminary findings suggesting that the AI model Chat GPT uses around 500 milliliters of water for every 5 to 50 prompts or questions it is asked. Both Microsoft and OpenAI have acknowledged the issue, with Microsoft investing in research to measure AI's energy and carbon footprint and OpenAI pledging to improve efficiencies.
Key takeaways:
- Microsoft's global water consumption increased by more than a third from 2021 to 2022, reaching nearly 1.7 billion gallons, according to the company's latest environmental report.
- Google also reported a 20% increase in water use in its environmental report.
- AI technology, such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT, requires significant amounts of water to cool the supercomputers used in its creation.
- Microsoft and OpenAI have acknowledged the environmental impact of AI technology and are investing in research to measure and improve AI's energy and water efficiency.