As national drought deepens, a new AI model helps balance water demands

As drought strains water supplies across much of the United States, Virginia Tech researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to help policymakers manage growing competition between agriculture and semiconductor manufacturing. Feras Batarseh, associate professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and the project's lead researcher, said the recent explosion of AI queries via language learning models and the increased need for chip production are increasing pressure on already-strained water systems in many parts of the country.