Elon Musk has introduced Colossus, a supercomputer focused on artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Futurism, the facility powering the supercomputer is visibly releasing large amounts of fumes into the air around Memphis, an area already struggling with environmental pollution.
Musk claims that the construction of Colossus took only 122 days and hopes to double its size in the coming months. The data center will provide computing power for Musk’s AI company, xAI.
The supercomputer uses 100,000 powerful Nvidia H100 GPUs to process AI tasks, primarily to power Grok, an AI capable of generating texts and images.
This part of Memphis, Tennessee, is known for its factories and smokestacks. Poor air quality has contributed to higher rates of asthma and reduced life expectancy in the region.
AI tools like Grok consume massive amounts of energy. According to NPR, Musk’s Colossus is partially powered by 18 methane generators, which were installed without proper permits. These generators emit fumes that pose serious health risks to nearby residents.
Locals are already suffering from high cancer rates and significantly shorter life expectancy compared to surrounding areas due to excessive pollution.
