Why do Data Centers Use So Much Electricity and Water?

My real-world job is as an English lecturer and every time I use even a little AI to enhance a resource (it avoids copyright and it’s, well, free), I am met by waves (occasionally the odd tsunami) of approbation by my students that I am single-handedly killing the planet.  I would wearily point out the hypocrisy of their statements – so many of the digital devices that they cover end up in landfill because they are hard to recycle – and that’s just a starter), but I refrain.  However, the question does come up in my mind – why is it that data centers (especially those who are hosting AI platforms) use up so much electricity – not to mention water?

1,000 huge warehouse-sized data centers have popped up around the world since 2019 and the resources they use are staggering.  This Ted-Ed video has popped up in my stream just when I wanted the answers.  I might just play this to my students – these customised complexes come with a whole new set of complications.  Will my students have the tenacity to sit through six whole minutes of explanation? I hope so – I found this video revelatory.  Watch it below.