AI’s Thirst for Water to Soar 129%, UN Warns

The thirst for water across the artificial intelligence (AI) value chain is expected to grow by triple digits in the coming years, according to Retno Marsudi, the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy on water.

The rapid global expansion of AI is set to drive a 129% increase in water demand across the value chain. As many as 40% of the data centers in the world are in high-water stress areas.

Retno, who was Indonesia’s foreign minister for a decade, cautioned that AI data centers would have to make sure their operations are efficient in water use.

Aside from the AI threats to water, the world is also facing a major investment gap.

UN estimates showed that the world would require $6.7 trillion in financing for universal clean water access by 2030, and the need would rise to $22.6 trillion by 2050. “About 86% of the funding for water and sanitation is coming from public money.The private sector’s contribution is only at 2%; it’s just a drop in the bucket, ” Retno said, while calling for the government to work with all stakeholders to narrow the gap. 

At home, Indonesia is pursuing a regional data center partnership with close neighbor Singapore.

The government has also signaled plans for a “so-called water farming policy,” which will require restoration of extracted groundwater.

Reference Sources

1. jakartaglobe - AI’s Thirst for Water to Soar 129%, UN Warns

World's biggest oil producers to try increasing production to stabilise prices

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec+) and its allies have agreed to raise production quotas again from September, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman will increase their September production target by about 188,000 barrels a day.

The group had already agreed similar increases for June, July and August.

In practice, Opec+ output remains well below those quotas. Exports from Gulf States have been disrupted by the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Organisation figures previously showed that Opec+ countries pumped just over 36 million barrels a day in June.

The September increase agreed by core Opec+ members - Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman - COMPLETES the theoretical revival of supplies halted in 2023 and gives them scope to add more barrels once the Middle East war ends.

The group has raised quotas each month throughout the Iran war, even as supply from the region remains constrained by the conflict.

Bloomberg reported last week that Opec+ currently plans to hold levels steady for the rest of the year after the September hike.

Reference Sources

1. brusselstimes - World's biggest oil producers to try increasing production to stabilise prices
2. wsj - OPEC, Allies Increase Oil Output for Sixth Time in a Row
3. bloomberg - OPEC+ Makes Small Quota Hike to Finish Unwinding 2023 Cuts
4. cnbc - OPEC agrees September oil hike, completing rollback of voluntary cuts
5. bernama - OPEC+ To Hold Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, Separate Meetings On Sunday

Australia Expands Demand That Big Tech Pay for News Stories

Australia's government plans to introduce legislation later in the year on the "news bargaining initiative," which will impose charges on big Tech companies to encourage them to do deals with local media.

The initiative will impose charges on Digital platforms that choose not to enter into commercial agreements with Australian news publishers to carry their content. Any digital platforms that make over $250 million ($175 million) in annual Digital advertising revenue from search or social media in Australia will be charged 2.5% of those revenues, with the money then meant to be paid to media firms to subsidize their work. Draft legislation released in April had a 2.25% charge imposed on relevant firms that had $250 million in revenue attributable to any kind of business in Australia.

Reference Sources

1. bloomberg - Australia Expands Demand That Big Tech Pay for News Stories
2. abcnetau - Federal politics live: Big tech companies to face higher tax if they do not reach deals with local publishers

The CommonWealth English daily news digest is a service curated by CommonWealth English team with the help of AI tools.  

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