GoKawiilThe rapid buildout of data centers across the US to meet the increasing needs of AI tools has become a controversial topic, with state laws popping up to limit their construction, and cities and individuals weighing in to stop them.
As tech giants rush to build out these massive AI data centers, critics have questioned the land, water and power being guzzled, including the protesters who staked out the Microsoft Build software conference focusing on AI in San Francisco this week.
One of the people positioned at the entrance to the Fort Mason event center, handing out leaflets detailing the effects of data centers being built, was Amy Herman. I spoke to her about her concerns.
Watch this: AI Data Center Infrastructure Plans Continue to Draw Controversy 01:58
"I would say it's more of an opposing viewpoint," she clarified when I asked about the protest. "It's not that we're against technology, or against any sort of monetization of innovation."
She said it's more a challenge of balancing limited natural resources with big tech companies that don't want to be held accountable for managing climate change while chasing technological advancement.
"What we're doing on our planet and all the impacts that are happening, not just here in San Francisco but across the United States," said Herman, adding that "the ripple effects of that are going to be felt."
In response to a request for comment, Microsoft said it "respects the right to peaceful protest."
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella spoke at the Build 2026 conference about changes the company is making to its data centers. Corinne Reichert/CNET
During the Microsoft Build keynote on Tuesday morning, CEO Satya Nadella said Microsoft would seek community permission to build data centers in the future.
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