Wired West: The Impact of AI Data Centers
Tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon are transforming the Mountain West with the construction of massive data centers.
These data centers, likened to the nervous system of artificial intelligence, are economic drivers but also raise concerns about energy and water use, and pollution.
“It's really growing very fast in Arizona and around the country — more so in the last two years,”
said Tom Maples, DPR Construction project executive, highlighting the rapid growth of data centers in Arizona, where driverless cars are a common sight.
This four-part series explores the energy path, water strain, and social implications of our digital obsession.
Author's summary: Tech giants transform the Mountain West with data centers.