Hong Kong think tank says annual water use by Chinese data facilities – almost half of which are in dry regions – could more than double by 2030, while AI chatbots ‘drink staggering amounts of water’ to cool themselves down.
As global supply chains are reshaped, countries such as Vietnam and Mexico are becoming attractive manufacturing hubs. Chinese-backed factories in the US might face resistance, but the job growth and knowledge transfer they bring will benefit the American economy.