Elon Musk endorsed NVIDIA's "dry" manifesto: AI ecology reaches a new level
Large technology corporations are increasingly coming under fire for their colossal consumption of natural resources. In the spotlight are giant data centers for artificial intelligence, which are believed to be "sucking up" electricity and fresh water. However, NVIDIA has decisively refuted these accusations, and its position has been unexpectedly supported by Elon Musk.
In its new environmental manifesto, the company claims that modern liquid cooling systems have virtually eliminated the water evaporation characteristic of previous-generation infrastructure. This allows AI complexes in northern latitudes to fully transition to economical dry radiators, abandoning bulky evaporative towers.
Facts and Figures: The Myth of AI's Water Scarcity
Referencing data from the Manhattan Institute for March 2026, NVIDIA emphasizes that data centers consume only about 0.2% of fresh water in the United States, with the majority of this volume indirectly going toward electricity generation. The cooling system is a completely sealed closed loop: the liquid constantly circulates within the equipment, and the servers do not require regular replenishment from the water supply.
"The NVIDIA DSX reference architecture for AI centers does not consume water. We have managed to minimize energy consumption and virtually eliminate water usage," stated Ali Heydari, head of cooling and data center infrastructure at NVIDIA.
Musk's Position and Hidden Risks
Elon Musk, whose company xAI uses large clusters based on NVIDIA solutions, has publicly endorsed this approach. His support significantly strengthens the partners' position in the media landscape. However, behind the loud claims of "zero consumption" lie real regional problems.
Indirect water consumption is rapidly increasing amid the large-scale deployment of neural networks. Analysts at the Berkeley Lab predict that direct consumption will surge to 38-73 billion gallons by 2028. Additionally, the efficiency of dry radiators is directly tied to climate: in arid desert zones, their productivity declines.
A telling example is the giant xAI Memphis Colossus computing complex. It drew up to 1.3 million gallons of clean drinking water daily from underground sources. Moreover, the company launched dozens of gas turbines before obtaining official permits, sparking outrage among local residents and leading to high-profile lawsuits.
Expert Opinion: NVIDIA's environmental manifesto is a powerful PR move, but it does not negate physics. Yes, closed-loop cooling systems solve the evaporation problem, but indirect water consumption through energy and chip manufacturing remains colossal. The future development of the industry will depend entirely on the strictness of environmental oversight by authorities, not on loud corporate statements.