DALLAS – Huge data centers are rapidly transforming the Dallas-Fort Worth landscape into a major center for artificial intelligence, but the quick expansion is sparking a heated debate over resources and the future of local workforces.
The scare of the “AI boom” is hard to miss. Companies such as Google, NVIDIA, and Lambda are investing heavily in highly dense facilities in suburbs like Plano and Red Oak.
However, the expansion of artificial intelligence is even more controversial due to its massive environmental footprint. Unlike standard data centers, AI-specific facilities require vast amounts of electricity to power high end processors and millions of gallons of water to keep them cool. With the Texas power grid already under frequent inspection during extreme weather, critics worry that prioritizing cooling, which some describe AI as, “supercomputers,” could come at the expense of residential stability…