cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/32023985
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
Many data centres use water-based systems to cool the plant with towers evaporating the heat, like a huge perspiration system, which means that the water is lost. It also has to be drinking quality because impurities can damage the servers.
If anyone was curious like me.
It seems like it wouldn’t be insanely costly to make the system near closed loop with minimal water loss.
That would take a lot of energy for a facility that is very energy hungry already. It is cheaper to pull in cold water from the mains and flush hot water down the sewer.