30s Summary

Microsoft has revealed an innovative water-saving design for their data centers that does not require water for cooling. This method recirculates water to maintain optimal temperatures without any loss from evaporation, potentially saving over 125 million liters of water per year. Current data centers utilize air and water cooling, but the new design will be trialed in Arizona and Wisconsin in 2026. Microsoft aims to have new centers using the zero-water evaporation setup by end of 2027, indicating a commitment to a more sustainable future.

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Microsoft is making some major strides in being more eco-friendly. They’ve shown off a new design for their data centers – the big places full of computers that run things like AI, crypto mining, and our everyday online services – that won’t need water for cooling anymore. It’s an awesome step because these data centers usually sap a lot of power and water.

Back in August, they put out their new setup that doesn’t need a drop of water for cooling down the servers and chips. Instead, it has this clever looping system that reuses water to cool the hot parts and then take that heat out without needing a refill. They said that with this new tech, they can keep the temperatures just right without losing any water through evaporation.

Of course, they’ll still need some water for basics around the site like bathrooms and kitchens. But, thanks to this impressive design, they estimate it could save over 125 million liters of water per data center every year. All this while also reducing the impact on the environment.

Now, if you’re thinking about the amount of water tech eats up, just know that writing a 100-word piece with OpenAI’s ChatGPT uses about half a liter of water. Also, the amount of water you need to cool stuff enough for just one Bitcoin transaction could fill a household pool. So, we’re talking big water here.

Currently, Microsoft still uses air and water cooling for their existing data centers. But the new water-saving design will get its first real-world tests in Arizona and Wisconsin starting in 2026. By the end of 2027, they aim to have new data centers online using this “zero-water evaporation” setup.

Finally, even though Microsoft reported good growth in their AI business over the last quarter, they also said they’re going to be spending big on AI over the next quarter. But, they’re not promising any quick payouts from those investments. Yet, with moves like their “zero-water evaporation” system, it seems clear they’re committed to a more sustainable future.