Data center boom sparks debate over benefits, costs and risks

U.S. data center investment is surging, boosting the economy while drawing opposition. Global capacity tripled from 2015 to 2024 and accelerated after ChatGPT's launch. Supporters call data centers the infrastructure backbone for AI; critics warn of a debt-financed bust, exaggerated local jobs and tax benefits, energy and environmental costs borne by communities, and risks from AI itself.