Training and using AI tools like ChatGPT is energy-intensive and heats up processors. Fresh water is often used for cooling. If that warmer water is then recycled to its original source, it impacts the ecosystem.
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00:00AI tools like ChatGPT are oftentimes based on large language models, which are trained
00:06using lots of data.
00:08That way, they can generate an answer to almost any question.
00:12But that requires a lot of energy.
00:14Every new request triggers computations that are far more complex than what happens with
00:18a traditional search engine.
00:21When you do a search with Google or any other classic search engine, what happens is a simple
00:26data query.
00:28That's it.
00:29With generative AI, there's a huge model behind it, and for each request, the entire
00:33model is activated.
00:36Graphics processors tend to heat up while they're working.
00:39If you search for boiling water on a CPU, you'll find many videos like this.
00:46To prevent chips from getting damaged, they're cooled down by using fans, which also use
00:51electricity, or by using water.
00:53This is also harmful to the environment, because often, fresh water from the local supply is
00:58used.
00:59If the water evaporates during the cooling process, then it's lost.
01:04If it gets partially redirected back into the rivers or water sources, then it can be
01:08used again.
01:10It will just be warmer, which means it will change the ecosystem of the river or water
01:14source.