The data center buildout is papering over the economy most Americans are living with
Data center buildout drove 92% of US GDP growth in H1 2025; without it, growth was 0.1%. Tech leaders face dilemma: economy bets on unproven AI infrastructure, creates temp jobs (5,000→500), threatens bubble collapse and labor displacement with no fallback.
deep dive
The data center buildout is papering over the economy most Americans are living with
Published
January 1, 2026 6:30AM (EST)
An aerial view of a 33 megawatt data center amid warehouses on October 20, 2025 in Vernon, California. A surge in demand for AI infrastructure is fueling a boom in data centers across the country and around the globe. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
AI insiders are beginning to question whether the industry is building data centers for a future that may never fully arrive.
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AI insiders are beginning to question whether the industry is building data centers for a future that may never fully arrive.
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