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AI companies are building huge natural gas plants to power data centers. What could go wrong?

Meta, Microsoft, and Google are betting billions on natural gas to power AI. They may regret it.

Reporting by TechCrunch AI 1 min brief
Paper-cut illustration of an amber microchip with circuit paths extending into a row of data-center cabinets.
The infrastructure powering AI.AI illustration by KeyNews
The KeyNews take

Why it matters

Major AI companies are making a risky infrastructure bet on natural gas power plants for data centers, potentially creating long-term strategic vulnerabilities around energy costs, regulatory backlash, and sustainability commitments.

The key facts

3 to know

  1. Meta building natural gas plants for AI data centers

  2. Microsoft building natural gas plants for AI data centers

  3. Google building natural gas plants for AI data centers

Go to the source

TechCrunch AItechcrunch.com

Publisher excerpt: Meta, Microsoft, and Google are all betting big on new natural gas power plants to run their AI data centers. They may regret it.
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