AI has a water problem. Google thinks it has a fix
The Verge AI·2h ago·Ethics
Google is responding to criticism of AI data center water use with a framework for replenishment, transparency, and site-specific cooling choices. Its commitments include returning more water than data centers consume by 2030, avoiding water-intensive cooling in stressed regions, funding local infrastructure, using alternatives like reclaimed wastewater, and annual disclosures. The core tension remains that saving water can increase electricity demand.