Universities are buying and selling property for AI data centers #AI #datacenter
Universities are increasingly selling or acquiring land for AI data centers. George Washington University sold its Virginia campus to Amazon, while the University of Michigan's plan to develop a computing center in Ypsilanti faces strong local opposition, leading to a unanimous resolution against it by the Ypsilanti Town Board of Trustees.
The demand for AI data centers is leading to a surge in property acquisition, with universities participating in this trend. George Washington University recently sold its Virginia campus to Amazon for $427 million to build data centers. A former faculty member highlighted a lack of transparency from the administration regarding the sale, with faculty learning about it through the student newspaper.
Separately, the University of Michigan acquired nearly 200 acres in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to develop a computing center for academic research. This proposition has met significant opposition from Ypsilanti citizens. The Ypsilanti Town Board of Trustees recently passed a unanimous resolution formally opposing the development. Concerns were raised about the overreach of AI on higher education, contributing to an "AI brain drain" where students may over-rely on AI systems.