What $10 billion in data centers actually gets you

Enlarge this image Attendees view an AI data center at the SK networks stand during the MWC (Mobile World Congress), March 3, 2025. MANAURE QUINTERO/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption MANAURE QUINTERO/Getty Images Attendees view an AI data center at the SK networks stand during the MWC (Mobile World Congress), March 3, 2025. MANAURE QUINTERO/Getty Images Billions of tech dollars flowing into a community to build data centers should transform a local economy … right? Well, maybe not. On today’s episode: Why data centers create few permanent jobs. And why communities might want them anyway.Related episodes:Why China’s DeepSeek AI is such a big deal (Apple / Spotify)Is AI overrated? (Apple / Spotify)For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter. Sponsor Message