The massive computer clusters powering artificial intelligence consume vast quantities to answer the world’s queries, but how is Big Tech redressing the balance?

Writing a 100-word email using ChatGPT (GPT-4, latest model) consumes 1 x 500ml bottle of water It uses 140Wh of energy, enough for 7 full charges of an iPhone Pro Max

  • gzerod200@lemmy.worldEnglish
    91·
    3 days ago

    Am I going insane? As far as I know cooling with water doesn’t consume the water, it just cycles through the system again. If anyone knows otherwise PLEASE tell me.

    • Uncut_Lemon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      2 days ago

      Industrial HVAC systems use water towers to cool the hot side of system. The method relies on physics of evaporative cooling to reduce temperatures of the water. The process requires water to be absorbed by atmosphere, to drive the cooling effect. (Lower the humidity, the higher the cooling efficiency is, as the air as greater potential to absorb and hold moisture).

      The method is somewhat similar to power station cooling towers. Or even swamp coolers. (An odd example would be, experimental PC water cooling builds with ‘bong coolers’, which are evaporative coolers, built from drainage pipes)

      • Zement@feddit.nlEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        Maybe it’s a valid measure in the future, albeit 500ml would be enough to power New York for a day (the state) by means of fusion.

        • nutsack@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          3 days ago

          perplexity.ai says that one chat GPT query consumes half a liter of water O_O

          im imagining a rack of servers just shooting out a fire hose of water directly into the garbage 24 hours a day