Price of progress: AI is rapidly depleting the Earth’s water resources
Price of progress: AI is rapidly depleting the Earth’s water resources
Publish Date: 2026-06-08 05:01:00
Source Domain: universemagazine.com
Data centers, which serve as the vital foundation for artificial intelligence (AI), are increasing their energy demands every year. According to experts’ forecasts, by 2030 they will consume a staggering 945 TWh of electricity annually. For comparison: this is more than seven times Ukraine’s current annual energy consumption.
The cost of progress, with the rapid development of AI, could deal a “severe” blow to Earth’s fragile ecosystem. Illustrative photo: Unsplash
However, energy consumption is just the tip of the iceberg. Every request processed leaves behind not only a carbon footprint but also a “water footprint” due to server cooling, as well as a “land footprint” from infrastructure construction and supply chain maintenance.
Water and Earth
A new study by the United Nations University (UNU) highlights a critical issue: the environmental impact of AI is being measured incorrectly. Researchers typically focus solely on greenhouse gas emissions, while ignoring the depletion of other resources. According to experts’ estimates, by the end of the decade, AI will require as much water as is needed to meet the basic domestic needs of 1.3 billion people.
AI is depleting the planet’s water resources. Photo: Unsplash
In terms of land area, the infrastructure will expand to over 14,500 square kilometers—twice the size of the Jakarta metropolitan area. The report’s authors warn that even the transition to “green” energy to reduce emissions could backfire, as some renewable sources require even more land and water resources.
The environment’s main enemy
There is a common misconception that the most resources are consumed during the training phase of new AI models. However, statistics show that 80% to 90% of energy is actually consumed during the daily use of these services. Just one popular platform processes approximately 2.5 billion requests per day, consuming hundreds of GWh per year.
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