AI may be booming. But it’s sprawling data centers, filled to the brim with powerful chips, that are actually training and running top AI models like Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude. These mega-scale data center projects—which underpin the AI boom and, by extension, the U.S. race against China—are changing landscapes, straining energy grids, and reshaping the economy.
In a recent feature, my colleague Sharon Goldman flew out to Arizona to Hassayampa Ranch, a 2,000-acre site 50 miles west of Phoenix. There, developer Anita Verma-Lallian is trying to bring to life a $51 million deal to build a massive data center, one backed by (among others) VC and Trump mega-donor Chamath Palihapitiya. The goal? Bring in a hyperscaler like Google, Microsoft or OpenAI.
