xAI has installed jet turbines to power its data center

The company xAI has deployed eight converted jet engines to power its data center in Mississippi. The decision was made against the backdrop of the massive energy consumption required by clusters for training and running language models.

According to permit documentation, the facilities have received quotas allowing them to exceed standard pollutant emission limits by 25%. Environmentalists and local residents have expressed concern over the potential increase in carbon monoxide concentrations in the region.

The use of aircraft turbines for power generation highlights the shortage of traditional grid capacity that developers of large-scale AI infrastructure are facing.