SUMMARY
As Earth Day approaches, a landscape photographer is raising concerns about the significant water usage of AI features in photo editing software. The author notes that companies like Adobe, Skylum, and Capture One do not readily disclose this information, making it difficult for users to understand the environmental impact of their editing choices. While some AI features run locally, many generative tools rely on cloud infrastructure, where data centers consume large amounts of water for cooling. The author urges software developers to be more transparent about water usage and to prioritize AI features that run on local machines.
TAKEAWAYS
AI editing software features consume water, primarily through data center cooling.
Major software companies lack transparency regarding the water footprint of their AI tools.
Users need clear information to make informed decisions about their editing workflows.
There is a call for developers to prioritize AI features that run locally.