How much water AI data centers use feels like the least interesting reason to dislike them.

If I wanted to dislike them for environmental reasons, then I’d focus entirely on the energy consumption and CO2 emission from the generators directly hooked up to the data centers since the grid can’t provide them with enough juice.

If I wanted to dislike them for economic reasons, I’d focus entirely on the weird circular deals and mountain of debt.

If I wanted to dislike them for social reasons, I’d focus on how AI proponents themselves admit that the whole point is to take all of our jobs.

The water thing feels like a weird hill to die on. It doesn’t feel serious. It’s by far not the biggest problem!