'Who wouldn't want a large-scale industrial polluter sitting in their backyard?': California residents ban data centers as public backlash grows

Data center.

• Monterey Park becomes the first city to ban data center building
• Elsewhere, public opinion is turning against data center construction
• There are concerns over expense, pollution, and electricity use

As well as developing new models and pushing subscriptions, AI companies have something else to worry about: getting enough data centers built. The California city Monterey Park just became the first to ban the building of these processing hubs, amid growing worries over costs, energy use, and pollution.