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Profits over lives
(thelemmy.club)
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this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2026
818 points (97.9% liked)
Fuck AI
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"We did it, Patrick! We made a technological breakthrough!"
A place for all those who loathe AI to discuss things, post articles, and ridicule the AI hype. Proud supporter of working people. And proud booer of SXSW 2024.
AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
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I know people LOOOOOOVE to use how many bajillion gallons (wtf is a gallon? is that a bucket? learn to use litres) AI data centers use, without looking into how much that is as a percentage of total water use:
Basis: 322 billion US gallons per day, equivalent to 117.53 trillion gallons per year. Percentages are calculated against total US water withdrawals in 2015. (USGS)
The first eight categories add up to 99.879%. The small difference from 100% is caused by rounding in the USGS daily figures.
The data-center and AI rows represent water-consumption footprints, while the USGS sector rows represent water withdrawals. They are included for scale comparison and should not be added to the sector totals.
I wanna know how much of that irrigation goes to corn and lawns/greens.
Idk but I do know my town is in level 3 drought but the car washes and golf courses are exempt.
Thanks for sharing stats. If we could convert 5-10% more of total grid to renewable energy it would more than make up for additional data center water consumption growth nationally.
We’re obviously in the Fuck AI community but at least there’s one path to limiting the external damages.
You are all being manipulated (fear mongered). This is rediculous.
And I'm still for forcing them to circulate their water loops, by law.