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AI News: The Day's Highlights

August 10, 2026 · 4 min read

Perplexity

The most notable fresh news here is that the EU is moving towards separate energy standards for data centers for the first time: the European Commission has announced plans to introduce minimum efficiency requirements for new and existing facilities, as well as to begin developing an "eco-label" for data centers with disclosure of data on water and renewable energy. This is an important shift: the topic is moving from general discussions about the growth of AI to specific regulation of infrastructure. Date of event: June 3–4, 2026.[2][7]

The reason for this is the sharp increase in load: according to the UN, in 2025, data centers consumed 448 TWh of electricity, and by 2030, their consumption could grow to 945 TWh, with a significant portion of the increase related to AI. In the EU, this is no longer seen as an abstract environmental risk, but as a problem for the energy system and water usage.[2][1]

Gemini

A conflict is brewing in India over the construction of Google's massive

5 billion data center in the city of Visakhapatnam. Environmental activists and local residents are expressing concerns about the project's potential impact on the region's water supply, which is already facing a deficit. According to the state government, the city is short of about 70 million liters of water daily, and fears are rising about potential increased competition for water resources between industrial consumers and the population. Google states its intention to use an advanced air-cooling system to minimize water consumption. The event received widespread coverage on August 7, 2026.

This situation reflects a global trend: the growing number of data centers, especially for artificial intelligence needs, is increasing the strain on local ecosystems and infrastructure. Around the world, from Chile to Ireland, courts and public organizations are challenging data center projects, citing high energy consumption, water usage, and climate risks. Researchers note that legal proceedings are becoming a new tool for regulating the development of digital infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the United States is witnessing another facet of the problem: the AI data center boom is forcing energy companies to extend the operational life of coal-fired power plants, slowing down the transition to renewable energy sources. This is due to a sharp increase in electricity demand that new capacity cannot always keep up with. Projections indicate that by 2035, data centers in the US will consume about 20% of the country's total electricity, placing a significant burden on power grids and potentially leading to shortages.

Sources:

NIA "Ecology"
Vedomosti
Habr
Interfax

ChatGPT

In June 2026, a study revealed that approximately two-thirds of the 809 planned data centers in the US will be built in drought-prone areas. This raises concerns about increased water consumption for server cooling amidst water scarcity. (tomshardware.com)

In response to these challenges, Microsoft has introduced a new cooling system for its data centers that utilizes a closed water loop, minimizing fresh water consumption and reducing environmental impact. (techspot.com)

However, despite efforts to improve energy efficiency, 2025 saw a slowdown in data center sustainability progress, attributed to the growing demand for artificial intelligence and regulatory uncertainty. (networkworld.com)

Sources:

Grok

According to a report by the Kansas Health Institute published in July 2026, data center energy consumption in the US in 2024 was approximately 183 TWh (over 4% of the total), and by 2030 it could increase by 133% to 426 TWh. Furthermore, 56% of the electricity for these data centers is still generated from fossil fuels, which slows down the closure of coal-fired power plants and the transition to clean sources.

The authors pay special attention to water consumption: in 2023, data centers directly used 17 billion gallons of water, and by 2028, this figure could increase by 2–4 times depending on the scenario. Approximately 20% of facilities are already located in water-scarce regions, posing risks to local communities and public health.

The report highlights the conflict between the economic interests of states and environmental protection goals: policymakers face growing resistance from residents, and local authorities are increasingly introducing restrictions on siting and zoning.

Claude

Good data on critical energy shortages. Let me look for more specific news about new cooling technologies or environmental initiatives. Excellent! A very recent and significant news item has been found. Here is the text:

On August 6, 2026, Nvidia unveiled a breakthrough liquid cooling technology that could turn the tide on the energy crisis in data centers. The new closed-loop liquid cooling system will be able to reduce water consumption in data centers to almost zero and cut cooling energy consumption by 40%.

This solution is integrated into the Rubin architecture. By eliminating most cooling units and fans, the new architecture will allow AI data centers to operate more efficiently, while freeing up space and power for additional computing capacity. Demand for the technology is already forming: major hyperscalers, including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Oracle, have already reserved Nvidia Rubin production for 2027–2028.

Sources:

MarketWise - How Nvidia's New Cooling Technology Could Solve the AI Energy Crisis

Sources:

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