AI & Communities: A Troubling Question 🤔 ❓

Tech

🎧

Microsoft Addresses Community Concerns with “Community-First AI Infrastructure”
Microsoft announced a new initiative, “Community-First AI Infrastructure,” which commits the company to covering the full electricity costs for its data centers and to forgo local property tax reductions. As demand for generative AI services has surged over the past year, Big Tech companies have been racing to establish massive new data centers to support chatbots and image generators, a move with profound economic implications for surrounding areas. Communities nationwide have expressed growing concerns that data centers are driving up residential electricity rates through substantial power consumption and by straining local water supplies due to the cooling requirements of the servers.

Electricity Costs to Remain Constant
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith wrote in the company’s blog post announcing the initiative that the company will “set a high” “bar” for responsible data center development, aiming to address growing criticism regarding construction. The company’s plan encompasses five key commitments: covering the full electricity costs to prevent increases for residents, minimizing water usage while replenishing more than the amount withdrawn, creating local jobs, paying full property taxes, and investing in AI training programs for data center communities. Smith acknowledged recent rises in residential electricity rates across dozens of states, largely attributed to inflation, supply chain challenges, and grid infrastructure upgrades. He noted that communities “value new jobs and property tax revenue, but not if they come with higher power bills or tighter water supplies.”

Water Conservation and Technological Innovation
Microsoft aims for a 40 percent improvement in data center water-use intensity by 2030, addressing concerns about the environmental impact of AI operations. A recent environmental audit conducted by AI model-maker Mistral revealed that training and running its Large 2 model over 18 months generated 20.4 kilotons of CO2 emissions and consumed enough water to fill 112 Olympic-size swimming pools. To mitigate these issues, Microsoft has implemented a new AI data center design utilizing a closed-loop system that continuously recirculates cooling liquid, eliminating the need for potable water. This design, already deployed in Wisconsin and Georgia, represents a significant reduction in water consumption.

Commitment to Local Communities and Responsible Tax Practices
Microsoft stated that it will not request municipalities to lower their rates and will continue to pay its full share. In a blog post, Smith explained that the company’s goal is to realize these commitments by the first half of 2026. However, it’s important to note that these are presently stated company goals, and their actual realization will require ongoing monitoring and verification.

This article is AI-synthesized from public sources and may not reflect original reporting.