Thieves are using digital methods to steal trucks carrying data centre equipment worth millions of dollars, according to NBC News. Thieves hack freight brokers' accounts, post fake shipments to attract bids, and send malicious links to trucking companies. They then take control of accounts and bid on real loads. In one of the largest thefts, tracking coordinates were spoofed to avoid monitoring. Some stolen equipment has been recovered, but in two of the largest cases none was found, and off-duty police escorts were targeted in hit-and-run incidents.
Blackstone executive Jas Khaira has played down fears that debt funding the AI infrastructure buildout could trigger a credit crisis. He said the debt is largely backed by the most creditworthy companies, such as hyperscalers. Khaira acknowledged that rising borrowing costs and higher credit spreads have unsettled markets. Shares of CoreWeave fell more than 20% in recent days, and Firmus cancelled a planned listing on the Australian Securities Exchange. Khaira said the AI adoption gains across Blackstone's portfolio are real but uneven.
Germany planned to double its data centre capacity by 2030 to boost AI access and its economy. However, a 2023 law requiring new data centres to reuse waste heat clashed with that goal. In June, the government amended the rules, so operators must only assess whether heat reuse is feasible. Developers had argued the original requirements were impossible to meet, and several projects have since collapsed. Critics say climate targets have been sacrificed, and public unease about data centres is growing across Europe.
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SpaceX's data centres and Grok agents earned more profit than investors expected in the third quarter. Its artificial intelligence business now makes up 52 per cent of its income. Total revenue reached $14.6 billion, and the company returned to profit with net income of $4.4 billion. Chief executive Elon Musk predicted that annual recurring revenue from the business could reach between $500 billion and $1 trillion by the end of 2027. The company expects to spend $35 billion to $40 billion on new capital investments in the fourth quarter.
Industry groups are targeting young people to improve the public image of data centres, which face growing local opposition. The nonprofit 7x24 Exchange International promotes a children's story, themed activities and an International Data Center Day. Companies including Sabey and Amazon have hosted student field trips. Researcher Alex Molnar says industries with image problems have long used schools to promote their message, and he questions whether children can assess such messaging. Surveyed Americans increasingly view data centres negatively.
Cerebras Systems chief executive Andrew Feldman has criticised AI leaders who warn about doomsday scenarios, saying some should not be allowed to speak in public. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, he said the potential benefits of AI, such as reducing cancer deaths, are being overlooked. Feldman acknowledged that powerful technologies carry risks and said AI should be regulated reasonably. He also said the data centre industry had failed to engage local communities, particularly in the United States, and that this had fuelled public negativity.
Amazon has said it will no longer use nondisclosure agreements when negotiating with local governments over data centres, following a similar move by Microsoft. Hosts on TechCrunch's Equity podcast said the announcement came within a blog post arguing that data centres benefit communities. They said secret negotiations have fuelled public distrust, pointing to Uber's past dealings with local councils. One host doubted that recent moratoriums on data centres would have lasting effect, while another said the industry communicates poorly about AI.
Opposition to data centers is growing across the United States, and candidates from both major parties are using the issue in midterm campaigns. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown has accused Republican Senator Jon Husted of welcoming data centers to the state and driving up energy bills. Many House and governor races also feature data centers in campaign advertising. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a hyperscale moratorium in July. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has moved to put a de facto moratorium on permits.
Amazon says it will stop using nondisclosure agreements when negotiating data center deals with local governments. Microsoft made a similar move earlier this year. Secrecy around these deals has fuelled community opposition to AI infrastructure, with hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums across the United States. A TechCrunch Equity podcast episode examines whether ending these agreements will change how such deals are done. The hosts also discuss why trust may be central for personal AI startups seeking access to consumers' inboxes, files and payment cards.
Amazon says it will stop using non-disclosure agreements when negotiating data center deals with local governments. The move follows a similar decision by Microsoft earlier this year. Secrecy has fuelled community backlash against AI infrastructure, with opposition leading to hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums across the United States. A podcast episode of TechCrunch's Equity examines whether dropping these agreements will change how such deals are made.
A startup in California has developed a machine that extracts water from air using waste heat from data centres. The technology, based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), requires no electricity and can produce up to 300 litres of water daily. Atoco, the company behind the innovation, aims to address water scarcity and data centre cooling needs, with plans to commercialise the product by the end of the year.
