Samuel Hardiman, at The Daily Memphian, writing about the on-going concern here in Memphis over xAI’s use of gas turbines to help power its AI supercomputer:
Chunrong Jia, a professor in the U of M’s division of epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health, modeled the impact of what xAI’s turbines would have on air quality in Southwest Memphis. He used information from xAI’s Shelby County Health Department application to make 15 of its 30-plus turbines permanent.
Jia modeled the air-quality impact at the request of Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s administration. The city did not pay Jia for the modeling work.
Jia highlighted that his work is based on xAI’s own claims:
“I just took the emission rates that have been provided by the pollution-control board (SCHD). How accurate are these emission rates, I’m not sure,” Jia said.
Jia’s model, however, shows if xAI’s claims it uses technology to reduce emissions are true, the turbines will not meaningfully contribute to the city’s air-quality issues.
Data used in the model was taken from some 20 miles away, as there are no air-monitoring stations in the industrial area where xAI is located, however Jia pointed out that this isn’t a issue, as the air-monitoring station used is near a busy highway that cuts through the heart of the city.
All of that said, taking the company’s word at face value on this seems rather short-sighted.