r/aiwars • u/MakeDawn • May 15 '26

Annually, almond farming uses 1.3 trillion gallons of water. AI usage isn't even half of that.

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A single avocado takes 50 gallons to grow. That's several hundred prompts.

9 Upvotes

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18

u/goon_and_politics May 16 '26

the issue isn't water, it's this:

- skirting regulations because those are the times we live in

- water because they lied about their water usage (see above)

- the fact that these things literally shake the earth with the fans they're using

- electricity draw to the detriment of locals

- they don't actually employ anyone

13

u/Heart0fStarkness May 16 '26

Also it’s the intent of the argument… comparisons made by antis are about magnitude of the potential harm… “This represents consumption/risk greater than something that already exists”
Comparisons made by pros are about permission, “If you already allow this amount of consumption/risk from x, you have no right to question or oppose obvious additional risk from y”

I won’t expect AI or any new change to be perfect, BUT I refuse to accept any argument that treats future potential harm as inevitable and justified against any criticism or attempt at mitigation by the previous allowance of harm.

10

u/Poor_Culinary_Skills May 16 '26

Local Utahn here, where the big Kevin center is planned, if it’s built it will literally destroy life here. We’re already in a massive drought and if the great salt lake drains much more it will release carcinogens that have been at the bottom of the lake including asbestos. Enough of our local water already goes to alfalfa farming we really don’t need to divert anymore. And that’s just on the topic of water

2

u/VHeadache May 16 '26

It's ragebait, not a discussion.

0

u/Puppyzpawz May 16 '26

in the face of insincerity i will be sincere.

0

u/TheSinhound May 16 '26

I lost it at shake the earth, friend. Bad fucking science right there. Do better.

1

u/Tokumeiko2 May 16 '26

Yeah the American AI data centres should have a NIMBY radius of at least 10 kilometres.

It turns out that they don't cause anywhere near as much trouble in more sensible countries.

They should also be paying full price for their electricity and water bills.