# The AI Execs Bet Wrong - What Now?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ai-execs-bet-wrong-what-now/1034441>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 4, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ai-execs-bet-wrong-what-now/1034441 "2026-11-04T22:01:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ai-execs-bet-wrong-what-now/1034441/42 "2026-11-07T14:38:17Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> 1.4 Billion? is quite a bit. But California almond growers use 1.5 **trillion** gallons a year.

For context, the California almond industry employs over a hundred thousand people, produces about 80% of the entire world almond supply, and extends over a million acres where that water use supports not only the trees themselves but tens of billions of pollinators (domesticated and wild) and other wildlife.

To make data-center water use look comparatively minor, you have to resort to comparing **one processing plant** employing maybe a dozen people to **an entire industry** employing ten thousand times as many (and getting a much broader spectrum of benefits out of its water use).

That just highlights how exceptionally wasteful the data-center model is.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ai-execs-bet-wrong-what-now/1034441/43 "2026-11-08T02:16:33Z")

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Huang is also being summoned to Congress to answer for his falling for a [Chinese honeypot](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/us-intelligence-believes-jensen-huang-had-romantic-relationship-with-chinese-spy-in-honeypot-operation-spy-suspect-linked-to-company-accused-of-smuggling-usd2-billion-in-ai-chips) spy, lol: [Nvidia's Jensen Huang officially called to Congress due to reports of a Chinese spy plot — officials mention growing concerns over national security | Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/nvidias-jensen-huang-officially-called-to-congress-due-to-reports-of-a-chinese-spy-plot-officials-mention-growing-concerns-over-national-security)

I guess his motivations will forever be in question from now on.

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As for data centers, two stories from this week:

- They’re getting much dirtier due to expnanding into more and more fossil fuel use: [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/big-tech-promised-to-lead-on-climate-now-its-driving-a-fossil-fuel-boom/ar-AA2gAjgO)

- In Europe, direct action protestors are trying to stop them: [Activists breach Microsoft data centre construction site as protests spread in Europe](https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/activists-breach-microsoft-data-centre-124841542.html)

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