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.

Oregon city agrees to reveal Google’s local water usage

The Oregonian, represented by an RCFP attorney, reached an agreement with The Dalles to disclose how much water Google uses to cool its data centers.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press