Elon Musk’s Colossus supercomputer, which powers xAI’s alternative to ChatGPT, raises environmental concerns due to its reliance on methane gas turbines. Construction of the facility has led to criticism for its potential impact on local air quality.

When Colossus was first activated last year, it gained attention not only for its rapid construction but also for its heavy consumption of electricity, estimated between 50 and 150 MW. To meet this demand, xAI installed multiple gas turbines. The Southern Environmental Law Center reported that these turbines were set up without proper permits, raising alarms about emissions affecting community air quality.

Mayor Paul Young stated, “There are 35 turbines, but only 15 are operational. The rest are stored.” However, thermal imaging revealed that most of the turbines were in use, contradicting the mayor’s assertions.

The SLEC has criticized xAI’s lack of transparency, which has left local stakeholders unaware of operational plans. It highlights the growing dilemma of balancing energy demands of AI advancements against environmental sustainability, especially as more installations come into play for companies like Google and Microsoft to meet escalating AI targets.