Microsoft scrambles to quell fury around its new AI data centers

Microsoft has unveiled a five-point plan called “Community-First AI Infrastructure” to mitigate growing backlash against its data centers, which are fueling increased energy demands for AI products. The plan addresses community concerns by promising to pay more to prevent data center energy costs from raising other customers' electricity bills, minimizing water use, training workers, creating jobs, and contributing to the local tax base. This move comes as tech companies face surging opposition, influencing local elections, due to rising electricity rates partly driven by data center power consumption, which is projected to triple by 2028. Microsoft's President Brad Smith stated the need to address concerns head-on, adding the company will ask utilities to set rates high enough to cover their infrastructure costs and will offer more transparency regarding site locations and energy usage, countering closed-door deals that have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren.

(Source：The Verge)