How much water does AI consume?

The podcast investigates the escalating concerns surrounding AI's water consumption. It addresses a claim from journalist Karen Howe's book, "Empire of AI," which estimates that AI could consume 4.2 to 6.6 trillion liters of fresh water annually by 2027. The discussion reveals that Howe misinterpreted data from a University of California, Riverside paper, mistaking water withdrawal for water consumption. Researcher Alex de Vries-Gao estimates AI systems were consuming 750 billion liters of water per year by the end of 2025, exceeding global bottled water consumption. The potential problems arising from this consumption, especially if concentrated in water-scarce locations, are also considered.