xAI and SpaceX have been hit with a class-action lawsuit by Mississippi residents who claim a power plant serving nearby data centers has subjected them to constant noise and vibrations, affecting their health and reducing property values, reports Reuters.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Oxford, Mississippi, accuses the companies of negligence and creating a public nuisance by failing to control what plaintiffs described as excessive and disruptive noise.
Three residents brought the case on behalf of a proposed class of more than 10,000 people living near the facilities.
According to the complaint, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is placing a growing burden on communities, exposing residents to near-continuous noise and vibration from supporting energy facilities.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for emotional distress, declining property values and other alleged damages, as well as the return of profits linked to the operation.
Neither xAI nor SpaceX immediately responded to requests for comment. xAI subsidiary MZX Tech was also named as a defendant. Elon Musk is not personally named in the lawsuit.
Attorney Robert Wiygul, representing the plaintiffs, said the noise has disrupted residents' ability to enjoy their homes, which should serve as places of peace and privacy.
The lawsuit states that xAI invested more than $20 billion in developing the Southaven facility, backed by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. Gas-fired turbines at the site reportedly provide power for data centers in and around Southaven.
The legal challenge follows a separate lawsuit filed in April by the NAACP, which accused xAI of violating U.S. environmental regulations through its operation of the power plant and data centers.
That case remains pending. Last month, the United States Department of Justice indicated it may intervene, saying the dispute raises broader legal and policy questions about the government's role in supporting AI infrastructure.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
