AI’s “Thirsty” Myth: Debunking Google’s Claims
Recent findings challenge Google’s assertion that its Gemini model consumes only 5 drops of water per prompt. Here’s what you need to know:
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Energy Efficiency Misleading: Google states Gemini uses just 0.24 watt hours and 0.26 ml of water. However, this figure excludes significant off-site water consumption from energy generation.
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Datacenter Dynamics: Cooling towers in datacenters—crucial for lowering temperatures—consume 80% of water drawn from local watersheds, complicating the water picture.
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Apples to Oranges: UC Riverside researchers emphasize the need for a clear comparison between on-site and off-site water use. Their results indicate an average of 2.2 ml per request for U.S. datacenters, starkly contrasting Google’s higher figure.
In summary, while advancements in AI tech are promising, clarity and transparency in sustainability reporting remain essential.
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