Things to Do in L.A. Darian Orduno holds her baby, Gael, as her husband, Antonio, looks on during a town hall meeting at the Episcopal Church of the Savior in Hanford, Calif., which was convened in opposition to a possible data center proposal at the county fairgrounds. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Data centers are becoming the political flash point of the midterms as candidates race to respond to tanking public opinion.

New Jersey and Indiana are taking different paths to protect households from higher utility bills as AI data centers demand more electricity.

Inside Meta's Push to Put Robots to Work in Data Centers The company is testing robots that can swap cables, reset servers, and take on other tasks performed by technicians, fueling concerns among some workers that their jobs could be at risk. Meta is testing robots that can plug in cables, reset servers, and handle other tasks inside its data centers, according to several current and former workers familiar with the projects. The ongoing effort, which has not been previously reported, may eventually allow Meta to operate its rapidly expanding data center footprint with fewer humans, keeping labor costs in check as its spending on AI infrastructure soars . Meta is using robots and related hardware from several different vendors, including Watney Robotics, Kinova, and ABB, according to the same workers, who asked to remain anonymous because they weren't authorized to speak to the media. Kinova and ABB declined to comment.

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You have questions about data centers, and WIRED has answers. Join our livestream on September 10 and our panel of experts will tell you everything you need to know. Just a couple of years ago, hearing the term "data center" wouldn't have struck a nerve with most Americans. Now, mention the noisy oversized warehouses and you'll spark a fierce debate. The infrastructure powering the AI industry is at the heart of heated discussions of politics, business, and the environment, and in the months leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, backlash to data centers has proven to be an issue activating Americans across the political spectrum.

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Communities across the country are trying to keep data centers out. A victory in Maryland shows a blueprint--but no guarantees. Enter your email to receive alerts for this author. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. You're already subscribed to the aa_Nitish_Pahwa newsletter. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

The EPA has proposed a rule change that would let states decide how much input the public has on air pollution permits. It would be a huge boon for data centers increasingly reliant on fossil fuels. The Trump administration is quietly considering a rule change that could make it easier for polluters to build facilities--including certain gas plants and diesel generators that power data centers--with little to no notice to the public. On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing on a proposed rule change that would hand the power to states to decide how the public participates in the permitting process for certain new sources of air pollution. The proposed rollback comes as data centers face greater pushback across the US, with many communities using the permitting process to try to slow down development.

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The UN panel said its approach to AI was'scientific, not political'. The UN panel said its approach to AI was'scientific, not political'. A new United Nations report warns that the development of artificial intelligence may exacerbate global inequality and proposes a shared framework for how to responsibly develop AI, as adoption and investment into the technology accelerates unevenly across the world. "Access to AI tools alone does not produce equal benefit," the report states. "Countries that rely on foreign models, cloud infrastructure and data pipelines may gain access to AI while losing practical control over its standards, safeguards and local fit."