Cassandra is only carbon nowMar 8

Every time there's a discussion of AI and water usage, I see folks with data center experience explaining how modern data centers don't consume water in the way articles about AI describe, how you can effectively do things closed-loop and the like to avoid wasting water. I read those explanations, and go, yep, that's how the world works, that makes sense!

And then the AI companies keep burying their usage numbers in corporate secrets.

Show threadCassandra is only carbon now

Like, if the numbers were that good, why keep them secret? Why fight that goddamned hard to keep anyone from learning how much water AI data centers actually use?

I mean, yeah, I get it, I'm not trying to challenge folks on how data centers work — but there's a disconnect.

Mar 8 at 4:43amWeb
Show threadiximeowMar 8
@xgranade because they don't think the people concerned about ecological effects matter, because they see usage numbers of their customers. meanwhile they're wildly protective about their deployed infrastructure and capacities, and they see this kind of information as leaking information about their actual deployments
Show threadCassandra is only carbon nowMar 8
@iximeow Makes sense. Just very worrisome how much that extends into fucking with local governments to prevent existing transparency laws from mattering.
Show threade. hashman Mar 8

@iximeow @xgranade personally I'm not unconcerned, particularly because effects on a *local* watershed can be serious even if the problem in aggregate is not. But data center water usage, even if all the water was simply evaporating, is an itty bitty drop in the bucket compared to agriculture that is currently e.g. draining the Colorado River dry. And generally speaking that water is not getting contaminated, unlike water used in petrochemical ag.

(My fear is that if there's disproportionate negative PR about water use in data centers, companies will start using toxic coolants instead which are far worse, similar to how paraben removal has led to fucking allergens being included in personal care products instead)