All the Latest Updates on AI Data Centers
Massive new data centers are the physical foundation for tech companies' hopes and dreams for AI. But the rush to build warehouses full of energy-hungry servers has also ignited fights across the world over their impact on power grids, utility bills, nearby communities, and the environment.
Data Centers Become a Political Flashpoint
Data centers were a major bipartisan issue ahead of the 2026 midterms, and voters largely opposed data center expansion at the polls. Tech giants like OpenAI and Amazon are now promising to work more closely with local communities and to cover their data centers' energy costs. But following the election, Democratic leaders are calling for further data center restrictions and slowdowns that AI companies will have to grapple with.
What to Watch
From audacious plans to put data centers into space, to heated local battles over buildouts, to potential environmental impacts, here is The Verge's news, coverage, and reporting on data centers and the companies building them.
Highlights
- Lame-duck Congress might actually do something: speed up energy projects
- Data centers lost the midterms
- More coverage on AI, energy, and power grids
via The Verge AI