Dairy state data: Microsoft builds world’s most powerful computing hub in Wisconsin

Microsoft has announced plans to launch the Fairwater AI data center in Wisconsin by early 2026, which the company claims will be the “world’s most powerful” AI facility. The $3.3 billion project transforms Foxconn’s abandoned LCD factory site into a massive computing hub designed to accelerate Microsoft’s AI training capabilities while addressing environmental concerns through innovative cooling technology.

What you should know: The Fairwater data center represents a massive scale of AI infrastructure housed in repurposed industrial buildings.
• The facility spans 1.2 million square feet across three buildings on 315 acres of land, utilizing the site of Foxconn’s failed LCD factory that was announced in 2017 but became a “boondoggle” by 2018.
• Microsoft plans to house “hundreds of thousands” of Nvidia’s GB200 GPUs within the facility, connected by enough fiber optic cable to “circle the Earth 4.5 times,” according to CEO Satya Nadella.
• The company claims this GPU cluster is ten times more powerful than the fastest supercomputer and will significantly accelerate AI training efforts.

In plain English: GPUs (graphics processing units) are specialized computer chips originally designed for video games but now essential for AI training because they can perform many calculations simultaneously—like having thousands of calculators working together instead of just one.

The big picture: Microsoft is making substantial infrastructure investments to maintain its competitive edge in the AI race while addressing sustainability concerns.
• The Fairwater project is part of a broader expansion, with Microsoft indicating that multiple other Fairwater data centers are under construction across the United States.
• The company is positioning this as both a technological achievement and an environmental responsibility initiative, given AI’s reputation for massive energy consumption.

Environmental approach: The data center incorporates a closed-loop cooling system designed to minimize water usage and environmental impact.
• The cooling system only needs to be filled once and then remains sealed, eliminating water loss through evaporation.
• Microsoft’s vice chair and president Brad Smith emphasized the company’s sustainability efforts during the announcement, highlighting the environmental design as a key feature of the project.

Why this matters: The Fairwater data center signals Microsoft’s commitment to scaling AI infrastructure while repurposing failed industrial projects and addressing environmental concerns that have plagued the AI industry.