Experts warn AI boom could trigger global water scarcity

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly expands across industries, experts are raising alarm over its hidden environmental cost—water consumption. While AI is celebrated for its transformative potential, scientists warn that its growing infrastructure could lead to severe water shortages worldwide in the coming years.

Also read: Lok Sabha elections 2024: Using Artificial Intelligence, China may target polls 

At the heart of the concern are AI data centers, which require massive amounts of electricity and water to operate efficiently. These centers house powerful computer systems that run continuously for days or weeks to train large AI models. This generates intense heat, making cooling systems essential. To prevent overheating, clean water is circulated through cooling towers or specialized systems, making water a critical resource for AI operations.

Experts note that electricity generation for AI also compounds the issue. Many power plants, particularly thermal ones, rely heavily on water. As AI technology scales up, both water and energy demands soar—leading to increased carbon emissions and accelerated climate change.

Scientists caution that regions already facing water stress could suffer the most if AI data centers are established there. “The unchecked expansion of AI could create a global water crisis,” warn researchers, emphasizing that the threat may become reality within a few years if current trends continue.

As the world embraces AI, experts urge governments and tech companies to prioritize sustainable practices—highlighting the urgent need to balance innovation with environmental responsibility.