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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is demanding local authorities to immediately cease operations at Colossus, the high-tech “supercomputer” facility owned by Elon Musk’s xAI located in South Memphis.
Leaders from the civil rights group have sent a letter to the Shelby County Health Department and Memphis Light Gas and Water, expressing their concerns about the facility’s impact on the community. They criticized the organizations for their lenient oversight of what they described as a “dirty data center” and urged them to either issue an emergency order for xAI to stop operations completely or, at the very least, enforce clean air laws that the company is allegedly violating.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson emphasized the potential benefits of artificial intelligence when used responsibly but condemned xAI for jeopardizing the health of Black people in the pursuit of innovation. The focus of their concerns lies on the gas turbines powering Colossus, with xAI seeking permits to operate 15 turbines while reportedly running 35 without authorization.
The emissions from these turbines, including hazardous air pollutants like formaldehyde and nitrogen oxide, exceed EPA limits and pose a significant risk to the surrounding community, particularly the historically Black neighborhood of Boxtown in South Memphis. The NAACP criticized the Shelby County Health Department for allowing xAI to operate unchecked, despite already high cancer risks in the area.
In response to the situation, the NAACP’s letter was directed at Michelle Taylor, the Director of the Shelby County Health Department, and the commissioners of Memphis Light Gas and Water. While xAI has been contacted for comment, Memphis Light Gas and Water stated that they had not yet received the NAACP’s letter.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Colossus and xAI’s operations highlights the intersection of technological advancement and environmental justice, raising important questions about accountability and community well-being.
