AI has a water problem. Google thinks it has a fix

Google said it will aim to replenish more water than it uses at its data centers by 2030 and outlined five commitments in a new blog post, including investments in local water infrastructure, alternative water sources, and greater transparency around water use. The pledge matters because AI data center expansion has drawn backlash over resource consumption, and water has become a key pressure point for communities hosting the buildout.

In the face of widespread backlash to the AI data center buildout throughout the US, Google is touting its efforts to minimize the environmental impact by actually increasing water for local communities. The company laid out five commitments around water use in a new blog post published Wednesday, including a goal to replenish more water than it uses at its data centers by 2030. Google also said it will invest in local water infrastructure, identify alternative water sources to power its facilities, and be transparent about its water use overall. "We're just one of dozens of players in the space," Google's global head of infrastructure a … Read the full story at The Verge.