In the heartland of America, amidst cornfields and vast open plains, technology is leaving an indelible mark, begging the question where are all the green agenda leftists who would otherwise be screaming about the the stewardship of our planet’s finite resources verses high stakes computer advancement?
A recent revelation has uncovered Iowa as the unsuspecting stage where the cutting-edge of artificial intelligence (AI), GPT-4, a product of OpenAI backed by tech giant Microsoft, was trained. This training required copious amounts of water pulled from the surrounding rivers in Des Moines.
This impressive technological feat, as shared by a top Microsoft executive, took place “next to cornfields west of Des Moines.” But as with all advancements, there’s a cost — and in this case, it’s a tangible one.
The enormous computational power needed to train GPT-4 consumed a significant amount of electricity and, consequently, water to cool the supercomputers.
Microsoft’s recent environmental report lays this out in stark numbers. The tech behemoth disclosed a 34% increase in global water consumption between 2021 and 2022. This sharp rise, amounting to nearly 1.7 billion gallons (equivalent to over 2,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools), is attributed by experts to Microsoft’s deep dive into AI research.
Shaolei Ren, a researcher from the University of California, Riverside, attempting to ascertain he environmental impact of AI, expressed “It’s fair to say the majority of the growth is due to AI,” including “its heavy investment in generative AI and partnership with OpenAI.”
The nexus between AI training and water usage is intricate. For instance, Ren’s forthcoming paper suggests that every interaction with ChatGPT, ranging between 5 to 50 prompts or questions, consumes about 500 milliliters of water — the volume found in a typical 16-ounce water bottle.
Such figures shine a light on the hidden environmental toll of AI. Ren rightly points out, “If you’re not aware of the resource usage, then there’s no way that we can help conserve the resources.”
Google, another tech titan, reported a 20% uptick in water usage during the same timeframe. Interestingly, their consumption remained stable in places like Oregon but surged notably in areas such as Las Vegas and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
In response to the growing concerns about resource utilization, Microsoft affirmed its commitment to sustainability. The company, in a recent statement to the Associated Press, expressed “We will continue to monitor our emissions, accelerate progress while increasing our use of clean energy to power data centers, purchasing renewable energy, and other efforts to meet our sustainability goals of being carbon negative, water positive and zero waste by 2030,” the company’s statement said.
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OpenAI made a similar statement of its own to the Associated Press Friday, saying it’s giving “considerable thought” to the best use of computing power.
“We recognize training large models can be energy and water-intensive” and work to improve efficiencies, it said.
It’s also worth noting that Microsoft’s choice of West Des Moines, Iowa, as a prime location for data centers over the past decade was not arbitrary. Steve Gaer, the city’s former mayor, revealed Microsoft’s attraction to the city’s dedication to public infrastructure and highlighted their substantial contribution through taxes.
West Des Moines offers strategic advantages for tech companies. As Ren pointed out, training AI models in Iowa is considerably more efficient than doing so in more arid states like Arizona.
While the temperate Iowa climate allows for more sustainable cooling practices for most of the year, the summer months can strain local water resources.
Local concerns are tangible. In July 2022, Microsoft utilized approximately 11.5 million gallons of water for its array of data centers in Iowa, as per West Des Moines Water Works. This comprised around 6% of the entire water used in the district, a significant portion that also caters to the drinking needs of its residents.
Responding to this, West Des Moines Water Works conveyed its future collaboration with Microsoft would be contingent on demonstrable efforts to curtail peak water usage.
Microsoft says it is actively working with local authorities to address these concerns, reflecting the need for technology to evolve responsibly, keeping in line with both human aspirations and the environment’s well-being.
The water and electrical requirements to continue the advancement of AI is staggering. One has to wonder why the woke green leftists are not up in arms over the environmental impact on Iowa.
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