Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, is at the center of a controversy in Memphis, Tennessee, where it is building a large supercomputer. Local residents and environmental activists argue that the supercomputer, which was activated last summer, has become a significant air polluter in the county. However, some local officials support Musk, emphasizing the investment in Memphis.
A public hearing with the health department is scheduled for Friday to address the issue. Recently, mysterious fliers claiming that xAI has low emissions were distributed in historically Black neighborhoods, while environmental groups are gathering data on the potential harm caused by the company’s operations.
The dispute reached a boiling point when the Southern Environmental Law Center revealed that xAI had installed at least 35 portable methane gas turbines without the necessary air permits to power its supercomputer. These turbines, capable of powering an entire city, are significant emitters of toxic and carcinogenic pollution. The law center discovered this through satellite images.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young later announced that while 35 turbines exist, only 15 are in use, and the rest are stored on-site. Despite this, thermal images taken by the Southern Environmental Law Center suggest that all 33 turbines were operational at the time of the photos.
Amanda Garcia, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, criticized xAI for operating without permits or public oversight, raising concerns about the quality of air Memphians breathe daily. xAI, Mayor Young, and the Shelby county health department have not responded to requests for comment.
The xAI supercomputer, nicknamed “Colossus,” was designed to support xAI’s chatbot, Grok. The facility is as large as 13 football fields and Musk plans to double its size. Musk also recently purchased additional property in Memphis to expand xAI’s operations, with the new property measuring 1 million square feet.
The production of artificial intelligence requires significant energy, mostly derived from fossil fuels in the US. The proximity of xAI’s operations to residential neighborhoods, predominantly in historically Black areas, is concerning due to these neighborhoods’ historical exposure to industrial pollution, which is linked to higher rates of cancer, asthma, and lower life expectancy.
Local residents have strongly opposed xAI, calling for stricter oversight and environmental standards. Recently, thousands received fliers downplaying the pollution from xAI’s gas turbines, which were reportedly designed to emit less pollution. This claim is disputed by local officials and health authorities, who point out that the turbines require proper permits.
Representative Justin Pearson criticizes the fliers for spreading false information about the harm of methane gas turbines, which he argues contribute to asthma attacks and respiratory illnesses. He urges the community to fight against misleading information and attends the public hearing to defend clean air as a fundamental right.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/24/elon-musk-xai-memphis
