The 'world's most powerful AI data center' hit with massive class-action lawsuit — Wisconsin residents allege noise and extreme light pollution at $7.3 billion Microsoft mega-facility

A data center with racks of servers and lots of lights glowing.

• Residents near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, file class-action lawsuit against Microsoft over “excessive noise” from its Fairwater AI data center
• Complainants also report light pollution from the facility
• Microsoft says it has taken “immediate steps to address the sound concerns”

While it is an inherently useful technology, AI comes with many challenges, not least the impact of data centers on the landscape and local environment. Microsoft’s new $7.3 billion AI data center in Milwaukee is demonstrating some of those challenges, having amassed complaints during construction and now a class-action lawsuit from Wisconsin residents.