Ever remember when people needed to search for information and had to work hard for it? They went to libraries, consulted credible sources, and conducted thorough research despite the lack of resources. Then came search engines like Google, which seemed to have almost everything. It became a big hit, especially among students, because school became easier.

This went on for years. However, when the pandemic hit, Artificial Intelligence was introduced. People saw how easy it was to ask AI to do something for them. At a time when everyone had plenty of time but was easily distracted, many turned to AI. In school, teachers could no longer focus on their students face-to-face. At the office, when people struggled to solve a problem, they made AI do it for them.

Fast-forward to now, and that lazy mindset has stuck with us. Creative and productive minds are slowly fading. People are no longer reaching for deeply researched information as they used to. They have become accustomed to asking AI to do the work for them. The result? AI has grown bigger, and more companies have started developing and adopting it. They now depend heavily on AI. The problem? AI isn't just a simple machine or website.

AI uses water to cool the systems that generate the answers people ask for. How much water? A lot. Especially now that our generation has become so dependent on AI that some people can no longer sit down and develop a good, creative idea on their own. Big conglomerates saw the potential in this and started planning to build a giant, real-life AI hub.

Ever heard of Pax Silica? It's an example of big companies pushing for an AI-focused development. Where? In our very own country, specifically New Clark City, Tarlac. You might be asking, "What then?" The thing is, if projects like this are approved and developed, a significant amount of our natural resources could be consumed. They may call it a modern move, but what happens if progress comes at the expense of our environment? Farmers and Indigenous Peoples could be displaced if the land they live on is used for these developments. Our water supply could also face even greater pressure than it does today.

What will happen when all these resources are gone? What will happen five years from now when the water we consume becomes brown and muddy, costing as much as your monthly electricity bill? Why should we share what is ours? Why are we allowing companies to use our water and land in exchange for what? Jobs? Modern technology? And then what? We could be left asking for the bare minimum while others thrive on resources that should benefit our communities.

Don't rely solely on a non-human source for everything. There are so many people in the world. Why should we always ask AI for help? Are we really at a point where we can't even ask another person a simple question? Don't let our dependence on AI come at the expense of our natural resources.

Otherwise, years from now, you might find yourself asking: "Where's my water?"