Janesville, once a symbol of the Great Recession, becomes AI data center battleground

Janesville, Wisconsin, a city once synonymous with economic hardship during the Great Recession, is now at the center of a new kind of economic battleground. The burgeoning field of artificial intelligence is fueling a national surge in stock markets and economic growth, but it's also igniting fierce local disputes over the construction of AI data centers.

These massive facilities, essential for powering the complex computations of AI, are becoming a point of contention in communities across the country. Residents and local officials are grappling with the potential benefits, such as job creation and economic investment, against the perceived costs, which can include environmental impacts, strain on infrastructure, and changes to community character.

Economics correspondent Paul Solman is examining how this debate is unfolding in Janesville. The city's past struggles serve as a backdrop to the current discussions, raising questions about whether the promise of AI-driven prosperity will outweigh the local concerns about the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure.