Creating a single video with artificial intelligence can consume more than four liters of water. And if all the world's data centers were located in a single country, it would rank eleventh in the world in electricity consumption. The rapid development of AI increases the demand not only for computing power, but also for electricity and water. Simply put, data centers are the heart of the internet, where the data of the applications we use is stored and processed. Today, around twelve thousand such centers operate worldwide.
Centers designed for AI are more powerful and produce a large amount of heat. In 2025, the world's data centers collectively consumed 448 terawatt-hours of electricity. It is projected that by 2030, this figure could reach around 945 terawatt-hours. Today, a significant portion of energy is derived from coal, gas, and nuclear power, which increases pressure on the climate. Servers heat up significantly while operating, and they are constantly cooled by water or air. According to calculations by the UN University, the water cost to create a single AI image can be about twenty-nine milliliters.
The United States ranks first in the world by the number of data centers, followed by China. Companies often choose regions where electricity or land is cheap, but those places frequently face water shortages. Tech giants are already discussing the restarting of nuclear power plants and the use of small modular reactors. According to UN experts, the sector should be regulated more strictly, and companies should publish data on the environmental impact of their centers.
This problem shows that the development of digital technologies has a tangible physical price. Although artificial intelligence makes people's daily lives easier, the underlying infrastructure continues to become a heavy burden on energy and water resources.
In the coming years, environmental pressure will only increase, which will force technology companies to look for new and unusual solutions.
