SpaceX · Wired · xAI · DOJ · U.S. · Iran · TechCrunch AI
DOJ claims xAI’s unpermitted gas turbines are a matter of ‘national, economic, and energy security’
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The Department of Justice on Monday sided with xAI in a lawsuit that sought to stop the company’s use of dozens of unpermitted natural gas turbines near its Memphis data centers, according to Wired.
Key facts
- In SpaceX’s IPO filing, the company said that it will buy another $2.8 billion worth of gas turbines to power its AI data centers over the next three years
- Formaldehyde exposure increases the risk of cancer, and PM2.5 has been implicated in a range of ailments, from stroke to Alzheimer’s disease
- The NAACP started telegraphing its intent to sue xAI last June, seeking to end the company’s practice of using “mobile” gas turbines at its Colossus and Colossus 2 data centers
- Since last year, the number of turbines at the data centers have more than doubled, resulting in a corresponding increase in three major air pollutants: PM2.5, formaldehyde, and oxides of nitrogen
Summary
The DOJ said if the NAACP, which filed the lawsuit in April, prevails, the result would undermine “American national, economic, and energy security by seeking to shut off the power supply for artificial-intelligence innovation that supports the Department of War’s military operations.” The memorandum filed by the Justice Department said that Grok is one of four AI models that support “mission-critical operations,” such as its recent strikes in Iran. The NAACP started telegraphing its intent to sue xAI last June, seeking to end the company’s practice of using “mobile” gas turbines at its Colossus and Colossus 2 data centers. Because the turbines have remained on trailers, xAI claims that they are exempt from Mississippi air pollution regulations for one year.