Blog - Big Data: hungrier than you after a workout

July 22, 2025

More than just post-workout hunger...

You know that hunger that hits after a solid hour of Pilates, a run, or HIIT? Now imagine that same level of need — but from artificial intelligence. Not one AI, but millions, working around the clock to answer your questions, recommend a skincare product, generate images, or build a custom diet plan.

That’s right: big data is even hungrier than you are after the gym.

Behind every impressive AI response lies a complex system of servers, energy, water, and infrastructure running nonstop. It’s a powerful machine — but also a demanding one.


1. AI: Useful, absolutely. But also Energy-Hungry.

AI is now deeply embedded in our daily lives. We use it to write, search, create, learn. It’s fast, helpful, and seemingly effortless. But making it work is anything but light on resources.

Especially for the latest-generation models, training and running AI systems requires enormous amounts of data and processing power. Every single query — even the smallest — has an invisible but very real environmental cost.

And the demand is only rising. We’re still far from peak usage. This is just the beginning of AI’s mass adoption.


2. Power? Sure. But Let’s Talk About Water.

When we think of AI’s environmental impact, electricity is the first concern that comes to mind. But there’s another, often overlooked, resource at risk: water.

Data centers need cooling — and many rely on water-based systems that evaporate vast amounts of liquid into the atmosphere. Unlike household water (which returns to the system through drains), this industrial water disappears, taking months — sometimes up to a year — to return to the earth’s surface.

In a world already facing freshwater shortages, AI’s thirst becomes a pressing issue.

 

3. So, Should We Abandon AI? Absolutely Not.

The answer isn’t going backward — and no, we’re not suggesting a return to flip phones.

The real challenge is to make AI leaner, smarter, and more sustainable.

And the good news? That shift is already underway. Here’s how the industry is responding:

• Data centers are increasingly powered by renewable energy sources like wind, solar and cogeneration, ensuring 24/7 operations without depending on fossil fuels.

• Newer AI models are being designed to be lighter and more efficient, maintaining high performance while requiring fewer computing resources — which means less energy consumed.

• Infrastructure is being reimagined with natural cooling systems that leverage cold air or advanced technologies — cutting the need for water-intensive cooling and reducing the overall environmental load.

• Companies are implementing smart monitoring systems to track and optimize resource usage in real time, offering full transparency into energy and emissions footprints.


We’re just at the beginning, but the momentum is real — and promising.

 

Conclusion: We need smarter intelligence — and smarter decisions

AI is a powerful tool. But like any tool, its impact depends on how we build it — and how we use it.

What we need now is a new kind of intelligence: one that blends tech with responsibility, and progress with awareness.

Because the future doesn’t just need smart machines.

It needs smart choices.

By the Digital Team