▲ 59 ▼ The AI Pascal’s Wager: Should you accept contributions generated by LLMs in your Open Source project? (ploum.net) submitted 2 days ago by ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net to c/linux@programming.dev 29 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] Wakko@hell.cloud 8 points 2 days ago (2 children) AI uses less water than growing almonds. Stop being a brainwashed cattle Citation needed. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] terabyterex@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (1 child) there are a few. i feel like this one gives the most info succintly https://rare.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AI-and-Water-Use-Updated.pdf permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Wakko@hell.cloud 5 points 1 day ago In general, it's unwise to cite carpetbaggers who don't account for the full systemic impacts of their data centers. See, for example: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption Powering data centers with renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, requires significantly less water consumption than obtaining energy from fossil fuel power plants. With approximately 56% of the electricity used to power data centers nationwide coming from fossil fuels, deploying more clean energy to power these facilities can significantly reduce water consumption. Coal plants are the most water-intensive facilities, requiring approximately 19,185 gallons of water per megawatt-hour (MWh) of power generation. Natural gas power plants consume approximately 2,800 gallons per MWh. In 2022, 40% of all total U.S. annual water withdrawals, or about 48.5 trillion gallons, were made by coal and gas power plants. Of those 48.5 trillion gallons, 962 billion gallons of water were consumed and were no longer available for direct downstream use. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] terabyterex@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago* (1 child) there are a few. i feel like this one gives the most info succintly https://rare.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AI-and-Water-Use-Updated.pdf permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] Wakko@hell.cloud 5 points 1 day ago In general, it's unwise to cite carpetbaggers who don't account for the full systemic impacts of their data centers. See, for example: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption Powering data centers with renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, requires significantly less water consumption than obtaining energy from fossil fuel power plants. With approximately 56% of the electricity used to power data centers nationwide coming from fossil fuels, deploying more clean energy to power these facilities can significantly reduce water consumption. Coal plants are the most water-intensive facilities, requiring approximately 19,185 gallons of water per megawatt-hour (MWh) of power generation. Natural gas power plants consume approximately 2,800 gallons per MWh. In 2022, 40% of all total U.S. annual water withdrawals, or about 48.5 trillion gallons, were made by coal and gas power plants. Of those 48.5 trillion gallons, 962 billion gallons of water were consumed and were no longer available for direct downstream use. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Wakko@hell.cloud 5 points 1 day ago In general, it's unwise to cite carpetbaggers who don't account for the full systemic impacts of their data centers. See, for example: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption Powering data centers with renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, requires significantly less water consumption than obtaining energy from fossil fuel power plants. With approximately 56% of the electricity used to power data centers nationwide coming from fossil fuels, deploying more clean energy to power these facilities can significantly reduce water consumption. Coal plants are the most water-intensive facilities, requiring approximately 19,185 gallons of water per megawatt-hour (MWh) of power generation. Natural gas power plants consume approximately 2,800 gallons per MWh. In 2022, 40% of all total U.S. annual water withdrawals, or about 48.5 trillion gallons, were made by coal and gas power plants. Of those 48.5 trillion gallons, 962 billion gallons of water were consumed and were no longer available for direct downstream use. permalink fedilink source parent