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 threadcthos 🐱Mar 8
@xgranade Also aren't closed loop systems way more expensive than just dumping / evaporating the water? Do we trust corps to actually do the more expensive thing unless forced?
Show thread✧✦Catherine✦✧
@cthos @xgranade it's not obviously cheaper at least because if you're planning to evaporate a lot of water you've gotta demineralize it. otherwise whatever it is you're cooling is going to grow a nice (awful) thick crust of minerals on top of it
Mar 8 at 5:00amWeb
Show threadkouhai, of the health issuesMar 8

@whitequark @cthos @xgranade closed loop uses slightly more power iirc (this may be combined with offsetting renewable energy commitments as part of a green data center marketing strategy)

also higher capital expenditure