Data Center Disaster? | Check-In 32
From ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast by Matt Mervis and Dr. Elizabeth Radday
May 28, 2026 · 3 min
About this episode
Matt discusses the backlash against xAI's expansion of gas turbines at its data center amid declining public opinion on AI.
In this ChatEDU Check-In: Data Center Disaster? Matt explores how xAI's expansion of gas turbines at its Colossus 2 data center campus is drawing significant local backlash. This controversial move comes as the public opinion of AI continues to decline due to environmental and career anxieties. Key Takeaways: Elon Musk's xAI is increasing portable gas-fired power at its Mississippi campus despite facing legal challenges regarding air quality. Internal communications reveal a massive rapid deployment of 19 new natural gas turbines over a recent 60-day period. Civil rights and environmental advocacy groups, including the NAACP, have filed lawsuits alleging Clean Air Act violations. Matt’s Two Cents: School leaders trying to build digital fluency and AI literacy among students must now navigate a rapid drop in public opinion surrounding these tools. Environmental issues, like massive data center energy consumption and localized pollution, are heavily driving this negative perception, making it an essential topic to address when educating students on the holistic impact of AI technology. Article: xAI Adds 19 New Gas Turbines Despite Ongoing Lawsuit https://bit.ly/4wSK5qZ
People in this episode
Host: Matt Mervis
Topics covered
- AI expansion
- environmental impact
- public opinion
- data centers
- energy consumption
- legal challenges
Keywords
- xAI
- gas turbines
- data center
- environmental issues
- public opinion
- AI literacy
- energy consumption
- legal challenges
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: xAI, NAACP
Places: Mississippi
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