Mark Cuban faces backlash over defending data centers
Billionaire Mark Cuban stepped into a digital hornet’s nest by claiming the massive public backlash against data centers has absolutely nothing to do with the actual buildings. The Shark Tank star argued on X that these facilities aren’t being criticized for their looks; they’re just proxies for fear of AI and concentrated wealth. This attempt to defend tech infrastructure didn’t go over well with residents who are dealing with the harsh, everyday realities of living near these massive server farms.
Cuban urged major developers of large language models, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, to stop wasting cash on useless celebrity endorsements. He explicitly urged tech leaders to bypass corporate suits and talk directly to creative unions in Los Angeles and New York to support terrified artists. He framed this community funding as a simple cost of doing business to ensure the tech sector can secure the power capacity it desperately needs.
Critics immediately dragged the billionaire for dismissing legitimate physical grievances as a simple public-relations problem. Commenters on Reddit pointed out that the anger isn’t about jealousy over tech wealth, but rather the unbearable noise, light pollution, and lost home equity. One angry resident summed up the frustration, calling the billionaire’s advice a cheap attempt to bribe communities into tolerating industrial disruption.
Some Reddit users pointed out that older corporate data centers were quiet, unremarkable buildings, but the new AI gold rush has thrown up monstrous facilities with zero community consideration. Others were furious about the environmental impact, noting that AI companies are basically running data centers inside tents powered by jet engines. In fact, one popular comment slammed the tech giants for stealing the very data used to train these models, calling it the largest theft in human history.
Industrial noise and sensory torture
Modern AI data centers are loud, non-stop beasts that are increasingly being built way too close to quiet residential areas. The massive cooling systems and on-site gas turbines generate constant noise levels that frequently reach 90-96 decibels. For example, Elon Musk’s massive Colossus Supercomputer used over 30 mobile gas turbines for power, making the entire area sound like a busy airport.
Even worse is the rise in infrasound, which consists of ultra-low-frequency vibrations that can’t be heard but can easily be felt. These low frequencies bend right over traditional acoustic walls, meaning standard sound barriers are completely useless against them.
Residents living near these facilities report experiencing chronic headaches, vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and severe sleep disruption. The National Institutes of Health warns that chronic exposure to low-frequency hums can trigger anxiety, extreme stress, and even cardiovascular disease.
A 2025 public health model estimates that U.S. data centers could cause 600,000 asthma cases and 1,300 premature deaths annually by 2030. These pollutants include nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, which together create an annual public health burden exceeding $20 billion.
The astronomical resource drain
The sheer scale of energy required to power generative AI is pushing local power grids to their absolute breaking points. Data center electricity consumption reached nearly 470 TWh globally in 2025 and is projected to skyrocket to 945 TWh by 2030. This massive power grab is already driving up home electricity rates for average citizens by double-digit percentages in hot zones.
Cooling these massive artificial intelligence factories also requires a terrifying amount of water. Tech giants are using millions of gallons of water in areas already facing severe, historical droughts.
A single 100-megawatt AI data center can guzzle up to 3 million cubic meters of water every year. This has forced states like Arizona to revoke home-construction permits due to depleted groundwater in counties that host massive tech facilities. It turns out a simple 100-query ChatGPT session can consume up to half a liter of water depending on local weather conditions.
Land grabs and local political revolts
The situation’s made worse by local politicians who sell out community interests for tax revenues. In Taylor, Texas, a local economic group sold 87 acres of donated parkland to a data center developer for $10 million. The land was originally donated by the Bland family in 1999 for just $10 under the strict condition that it remain a public park.
Local officials claimed that they didn’t need citizen approval because the existing zoning already allowed industrial development. While the project promises $30 million in tax revenues over a decade, residents are left with a massive 135,000-square-foot industrial complex instead of a park. This lack of transparency is driving a national wave of local political revolts and data center bans.
Billionaire experiments in green energy
Interestingly, Cuban isn’t entirely blind to the environmental criticisms surrounding his beloved tech sector. The billionaire was backing a massive 175-acre project in Dallas called Wonderview that aimed to build green data centers, but later stalled. This 10-megawatt, 150,000-square-foot facility is planned to run on wind power and energy generated from shredded garbage and sewer sludge.
The real dirt
The clash over Mark Cuban’s comments proves that the data center debate is not merely a public-relations misunderstanding. The rapid expansion of AI factories is causing real physical harm, severe grid strain, and local environmental depletion. Until tech companies prioritize community consent and invest heavily in silent, green infrastructure, local resistance will only continue to grow.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us
