Public opposition to water-intensive data centers is growing in the United States, especially those associated with artificial intelligence. These technological infrastructures require large amounts of water for cooling, which has generated environmental concerns and opposition from local communities. The major tech companies ensure that they are developing and implementing new cooling systems that can significantly reduce water demand in their data centers. These new technologies promise to be more efficient in water resource usage. However, experts warn that there is a trade-off: using less water may imply a significant increase in electricity consumption. This situation creates a dilemma for companies, which need to balance two distinct resources, both with considerable environmental impact. The debate illustrates the growing challenge that the technology industry faces in making artificial intelligence infrastructure more sustainable, at a time when demand for AI services continues to increase rapidly worldwide.
Euronews Portugal07/09/26, 12:28
