Inside the investigation into Kevin O’Leary’s Utah data center project

The Verge has published an in-depth investigation into a controversial proposal involving television personality Kevin O’Leary to construct a massive data center campus in Utah. The project, which aimed to be the world’s largest, was envisioned as a 40,000-acre facility powered by nine gigawatts of electricity—more than double the typical power consumption of a major city. The report explores the logistical, environmental, and economic challenges surrounding such an ambitious infrastructure endeavor. By examining the scope of the AI-focused campus, the investigation highlights the growing tension between the massive energy demands of modern artificial intelligence development and the limitations of existing power grids. The podcast discussion features reporter Josh Dzieza, who details the complexities of the project and the significant public and regulatory backlash that has emerged as the proposal faced scrutiny regarding its feasibility and impact on local resources.