S2E1 - The AI Gigawatt Thirst Trap

We're back with our first episode of Season 2 - The AI Gigawatt Thirst Trap. It was nice to have a little break, but Marc and Renee are back in the studio recording. Season 2 promises more infrastructure, more laughs, more music, and more nerdiness.

In our very first episode of Season 1, we talked about AI’s growing appetite for electricity. This time, we turn to something even more fundamental: water. From rivers that powered early industry to modern data centres that use millions of gallons to stay cool, we explore how scaling technology has always depended on scaling water. Along the way, we look at what actually happens to that water, why residential bills are rising, and what the future might hold when digital infrastructure runs up against very physical limits.

Join Renee and Marc as they discuss tech topics with a view on their nostalgic pasts in tech that help them understand today's challenges and tomorrow's potential.

email us at nostalgicnerdspodcast@gmail.com

Come visit us at https://www.nostalgicnerdspodcast.com/episodes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Chapters

• 0:15 Introduction to AI Data Centers
• 2:02 Water Infrastructure and Its Importance
• 4:19 Industrial Water Use Through History
• 6:45 Case Study: Victorian London
• 11:02 Case Study: Owens Valley Aqueduct
• 13:26 Modern Data Centers and Water Usage
• 17:39 Future Solutions for Water Management
• 20:28 The Political Landscape of Water Resources
• 24:23 Innovations in Cooling Technology
• 29:13 Conclusion and Future Perspectives