{"id":2224040,"date":"2026-10-28T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2224040"},"modified":"2026-10-28T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:00:00","slug":"voters-in-texas-agree-they-hate-data-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2224040","title":{"rendered":"Voters in Texas agree: They hate data centers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"content\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<article>\n<div class=\"duet--article--lede duet--page-layout--feature-article\">\n<div class=\"duet--ledes--special-feature-lede _16687ps0\">\n<div class=\"_16687ps1 _1se63890\">\n<div class=\"_16687ps9\">\n<div class=\"_1xtd7xb8 _1xtd7xb4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1044qiz6\">\n<div class=\"_16687ps3 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"_16687ps5 _1044qizq\">\n<div class=\"_16687psc\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e0\">\n<div class=\"_5s9d1e6 _5s9d1e3\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul 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class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/report\">See All <!-- -->Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"cbn62ff\">\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f3 cbn62f0 cbn62fa _19wv7tce _19wv7tc9\">Voters in Texas agree: They hate data centers<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fj cbn62fg _19wv7tce _19wv7tc1\">Some are even mad enough to vote for Democrats.\ufeff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo23 _29pwo20\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2d _29pwo29\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tce _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead_desktop-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6397 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89kk _1ajq89k6 _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Justine Calma<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0;visibility:hidden\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Justine Calma\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/Justine_BLURPLE.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Justine Calma<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">Senior Science Reporter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/justine-calma\">See All by <!-- -->Justine Calma<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw6 g4xafw1 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _19wv7tce\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-28T12:00:00+00:00\">Oct 28, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo2p _29pwo2m\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo211 _29pwo2x\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons _1e9wo7z0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"_1e9wo7zo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"_1e9wo7z6 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-->Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"cbn62ff\">\n<h1 class=\"cbn62f3 cbn62f0 cbn62fa _19wv7tce _19wv7tc9\">Voters in Texas agree: They hate data centers<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup cbn62fj cbn62fg _19wv7tce _19wv7tc1\">Some are even mad enough to vote for Democrats.\ufeff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_29pwo23 _29pwo20\">\n<div class=\"_29pwo2d _29pwo29\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-byline _19wv7tce _1p3b6390\"><span class><span>by<\/span> <!-- --> <span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"><span id=\"follow-author-author_byline_lead_mobile-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6397 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89kk _1ajq89k6 _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Justine Calma<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3-author_byline_lead\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0;visibility:hidden\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Justine Calma\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/Justine_BLURPLE.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Justine Calma<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">Senior Science Reporter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button 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Images<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1xtd7xbc _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"waimqt3 waimqt0\">\n<div class=\"_15bq8c60\"><a class=\"_15bq8c61\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/902546\/data-centers-ai-energy-power-grids-controversy\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"_15bq8c62\">Part Of<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_15bq8c63 _1d77m8a0\">All the latest updates on AI data centers<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_15bq8c64\">see all updates <\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_4aoxp30 waimqt6\">\n<div class=\"_4aoxp33\"><a class=\"_4aoxp36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/justine-calma\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Justine Calma\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"_4aoxp34\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/Justine_BLURPLE.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=96\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"_4aoxp35\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"><span id=\"follow-author-feature_article_article_details-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3\" class=\"t0jcdf0 gnx4pm0 _1p3b6392 _1p3b6393 t0jcdf1\"><span class=\"t0jcdf2\"><span class=\"_1ajq89ke _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><\/span><span>Justine Calma<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3-feature_article_article_details\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0;visibility:hidden\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1bw37384\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Justine Calma\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1bw37385 i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/Justine_BLURPLE.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5 _1bw37380\">Justine Calma<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1bw37381\">\n<div class=\"_1bw37382\">Senior Science Reporter<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/authors\/justine-calma\">See All by <!-- -->Justine Calma<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p> <span class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _4aoxp37\">is a senior science reporter covering energy and the environment with more than a decade of experience. She is also the host of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/podcast\/Hell-or-High-Water-When-Disaster-Hits-Home\/B0C15QVQLM\"><b>Hell or High Water: When Disaster Hits Home<\/b><\/a>, a podcast from Vox Media and Audible Originals.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"waimqt7 waimqt6\"><span class=\"_29pwo217\"><\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--share-buttons _1e9wo7z0\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"_1e9wo7zo\"><button aria-label=\"Copy link\" class=\"_1e9wo7z6 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Link<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Share article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z6 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Share<\/title><\/button><\/li>\n<li>\n<div><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Gift this article\" class=\"_1e9wo7z6 _1e9wo7z1\"><title>Gift<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><span class=\"_29pwo223 _29pwo222 _1044qizr _29pwo217\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body-container j2p4kx0 _1044qiz5\">\n<div class=\"j2p4kx1\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--entry-body mebm7x0 mebm7x1\">\n<div id=\"zephr-anchor\" class>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b2 _18mzr4b0 _18mzr4b7 _18mzr4b5 _19wv7tc1 _18mzr4bb\">Ask Texas NAACP president Gary Bledsoe what it\u2019s been like to see data center developers descend upon Austin and its surrounding suburbs and he can rattle off project after project facing opposition from locals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">There\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/tx\/south-texas-el-paso\/news\/2026\/10\/05\/taylor-data-center-investigation\">fight in Taylor<\/a> over plans to build a data center at a site that\u2019s supposed to be a park. Temple, around 40 miles away, is another sore spot, Bledsoe says. The mayor and City Council members there face <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/tx\/south-texas-el-paso\/news\/2026\/08\/04\/recall-petition-in-response-to-data-centers\">recall<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcentv.com\/article\/news\/local\/temple-recall-effort-against-mayor-davis-and-council-members-falls-short-of-needed-signatures\/500-70af88ad-4e48-4bce-8d0a-2c8ff2e7fc50\">attempts<\/a> over data center developments. And some 30 miles outside of Austin, San Marcos became the first <a href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com\/?id=87443X1797501&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2Fbusiness%2F2026%2F06%2F30%2Ftexas-data-centers-san-marcos-ban-opposition-poll-state-regulations%2F90750494007%2F\" rel=\"sponsored\">city in all of Texas to ban data centers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Nowhere in the world are data centers growing more explosively than in Texas. With the midterm elections looming, the data center fight \u201cis <em>the<\/em> issue in Texas,\u201d says Bledsoe. The state\u2019s NAACP recently joined dozens of other groups across the political spectrum to form a coalition to stop \u2014 or at least stall \u2014 data center construction. Their grievances are just as diverse as their membership: concerns about how much water the industry consumes in a state as dry as Texas, qualms about tax subsidies, and objections to new gas plants and wind farms built to meet rising electricity demand. Together, Bledsoe estimates the coalition \u2014 named We the People Texas \u2014 represents as many as 1 million voters across the state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">If there\u2019s one thing a broad range of voters can agree on this election season, it\u2019s that they hate data centers and are unhappy with the status quo. A majority of Texans \u2014 57 percent \u2014 oppose the construction of data centers, <a href=\"https:\/\/texaspolitics.utexas.edu\/blog\/new-ut-texas-politics-project-poll-finds-talarico-leading-paxton-abbott-leading-hinojosa-continued-resistance-to-data-centers-2\">an August poll found<\/a>. That included 43 percent of Republicans, 75 percent of Democrats, and 54 percent of independents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cWe have almost nothing in common in so many other ways. And yet you get us in the room with this issue, and it\u2019s like a wall\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">After initially proclaiming his state the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-google-announce-40-billion-investment-in-texas\">epicenter of AI development<\/a>,\u201d Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is now fighting for reelection against underdog Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who is seen as having a rare shot at taking a reliably red state. The state\u2019s high-profile Senate race is no less of a nail-biter, with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton running neck and neck against Democrat James Talarico. In each race, candidates have to win over voters who think data centers are coming for their water, land, and livelihoods. Republican and Democratic hopefuls alike are trying to distance themselves from an industry that\u2019s taken deep root in the state \u2014 and so far, voters aren\u2019t buying it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cYou\u2019re talking about Democrats, libertarians, independents, Republicans, all in one fight \u2026 we have almost nothing in common in so many other ways. And yet you get us in the room with this issue, and it\u2019s like a wall \u2026 fighting one big enemy,\u201d says Jet Parker, who cofounded a group called Save Rural Texas that is now part of the We the People Texas coalition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Save Rural Texas came together this year after a local county commissioners\u2019 meeting about plans to build a new data center in the Texoma area that borders Oklahoma. Residents, including Parker, successfully delayed that project. That victory led Parker, a corporate coach and speaker, to write up a handbook for other communities trying to block data center projects, and she now spends much of her time traveling around the state to train grassroots groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">She\u2019s got a warning for Republicans: If they keep backing data centers, they\u2019ll lose Texas. \u201cYou just pissed off a lot of people in rural Texas who are supposed to carry you across the [finish] line,\u201d Parker says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Abbott is in particularly hot water. \u201cYou brung it, so you dance with it. That\u2019s Texas talk, you know,\u201d Parker says. \u201cThat\u2019s what Abbott\u2019s done, but we\u2019re the ones having to dance with it \u2026 we didn\u2019t want to be in the dance at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">For years, however, Texas has taken among the most welcoming stances toward data centers in the country. The state passed a <a href=\"https:\/\/comptroller.texas.gov\/taxes\/data-centers\/\">sales and use tax exemption<\/a> for data centers in 2013 under former Gov. Rick Perry. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/projects\/2026\/timeline-texas-data-centers\/\">2015, Abbott expanded<\/a> the exemption to include hyperscale data centers, which can span millions of square feet and house tens of thousands of GPUs. As a result, qualifying data center developers don\u2019t have to pay state taxes on equipment and electricity for up to 20 years. That essentially rolled out the red carpet for companies that need abundant electricity to power energy-hungry data centers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Since then data centers have had a massive growth spurt in order to support new generative AI models \u2014 and that\u2019s costing the state. The tax exemption was initially expected to cost taxpayers $14.6 million in 2014 and 2015. But in 2025, state officials estimated that the tax break would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/07\/27\/texas-data-centers-sales-tax-break-audits\/\">lead to $3.2 billion in lost sales tax revenue<\/a> over two years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cYou brung it, so you dance with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The state\u2019s energy woes go further than that. Electricity bills have <a href=\"https:\/\/electricity.heatmap.news\/?_gl=1*1mucspm*_gcl_au*MTkxODA0MzIwMy4xNzg3NTkwNTU3\">grown by 35.4 percent<\/a> on average over the past five years as demand rises and utilities build expensive new infrastructure to meet that demand. Bledsoe is concerned about air pollution for communities around new gas plants. Data center electricity demand could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1015958\/data-center-pollution-rising-report\">erase decades of air quality gains<\/a> in Texas, one recent <a href=\"https:\/\/harcresearch.org\/research\/texas-data-center-air-quality\/\">study<\/a> found. Parker, meanwhile, can\u2019t stand solar and wind farms built near farmland. Neither wants to see new transmission lines snaking through their communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Data centers can also put pressure on already stressed water supplies, especially in a drought-prone state like Texas. While they can reuse water used on-site to cool servers, the larger part of data centers\u2019 water footprint comes from electricity use. Data center proposals have driven a surge of gas and nuclear power projects, both of which need a lot of water for their own cooling systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Data center electricity demand could increase nearly tenfold by 2030, the state\u2019s largest grid operator estimates. Meanwhile, data centers in Texas consumed about 25 billion gallons of water last year, around 0.4 percent of total water use, <a href=\"https:\/\/harcresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Thirsty-Data-Water-Use-and-The-Projected-Data-Center-Boom-in-Texas.pdf\">according to the Houston Advanced Research Center<\/a> (HARC). By 2030, that figure could grow to up to 2.7 percent of the state\u2019s total annual water use, HARC estimates. And water consumption can be much higher when zooming into certain communities. Another <a href=\"https:\/\/news.utexas.edu\/2026\/05\/06\/data-centers-are-growing-in-texas-but-big-questions-remain-about-water-use\/\">study<\/a> by the University of Texas at Austin estimated that data center water use statewide could rise to as high as 9 percent by 2040.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--related _1044qizj xfenh40\">\n<h3 class=\"xfenh42 xfenh41\">Related<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"xfenh44\">\n<li class=\"xfenh47 xfenh46\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1015958\/data-center-pollution-rising-report\" class=\"xfenh49\">Data centers could erase decades of air quality gains<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"xfenh47 xfenh46\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/cs\/features\/975597\/loudoun-county-virginia-data-center-backlash\/\" class=\"xfenh49\">Your future is in Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Virginia has historically been the state with the most data centers, but it\u2019s running out of space. Virginia still beats Texas 287 to 170 when it comes to the number of planned data center projects as of April, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2026\/04\/13\/most-new-data-centers-in-the-us-are-coming-to-rural-areas\/\">according to Pew Research<\/a>. But as data centers get bigger, they\u2019re moving out of cities and into rural areas \u2014 particularly in Texas. Data center capacity is typically measured by how much power it draws, and in this measure, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jll.com\/en-us\/insights\/market-dynamics\/north-america-data-centers\">Texas already takes the crown<\/a> with 26GW of existing and under-construction capacity compared to 13GW in Virginia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<hr class=\"duet--article--divider _1044qizj thksxb0\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Facing backlash to data centers, Abbott has changed his tune. In June, he <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-directs-puc-and-ercot-to-shield-texans-from-data-center-infrastructure-costs\">directed the state Public Utility Commission<\/a> to require that data center operators cover the costs of new infrastructure built to serve them. Since then, he has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/09\/21\/abbott-texas-data-center-permits-halt-01086398\">announced<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/uploads\/files\/press\/TCEQ_Data_Center.pdf?ref=404media.co\">statewide<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/08\/03\/texas-data-center-project-audit-greg-abbott\/\">moratoriums<\/a> on permits for data center projects pending audits on their electricity and water use. He\u2019s also said that he would <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/uploads\/files\/press\/Thomas_Gleeson_Pablo_Vegas_Data_Centers_Directive_Letter_to_PUC_ERCOT_FINAL.pdf\">support a repeal<\/a> of the sales tax exemption for data centers and greater oversight of data centers\u2019 water and electricity use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Even so, he\u2019s reportedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/10\/19\/greg-abbott-data-center-donors-texas\/\">taken millions in campaign contributions<\/a> from data center interests, and We the People Texas coalition members are not convinced he\u2019s turned the page. \u201cIs he doing enough? Absolutely not,\u201d Parker says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">The NAACP sent a <a href=\"https:\/\/naacp.org\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/TX%20Open%20data%20center%20Letter%20Final%209.29.pdf\">letter<\/a> to Abbott\u2019s office last month criticizing his moratoriums for not going far enough because the state is only auditing projects that connect to the power grid. However, more so than any other state, Texas has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.woodmac.com\/press-releases\/newly-added-us-data-center-capacity-slows-down-considerably-in-q4-2025-as-market-struggles-to-keep-up-with-explosive-demand\/\">data centers building their own power supply on-site,<\/a> without needing to connect to the grid. Bledsoe\u2019s concerned that these private energy projects will be subject to less regulatory scrutiny, while also harming air quality in nearby neighborhoods. Projects that already have permits are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.404media.co\/it-aint-right-texas-said-it-would-halt-data-center-permits-the-state-is-pushing-ahead-anyway\/\">still being built<\/a>. And an October investigation by advocacy group Public Citizen and FracTracker found public records indicating that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/business-as-usual-despite-governors-directive-tceq-continues-processing-and-issuing-data-center-permits\/\">state agencies are still processing permits for data centers<\/a>, although <a href=\"https:\/\/insideclimatenews.org\/news\/19102026\/texas-continued-permitting-data-centers-after-moratorium\/\">Abbott\u2019s office denies that they have issued any approvals<\/a> since he directed them to pause permitting. To Bledsoe and other coalition members, he says, the temporary moratorium looks like \u201can attempt to run out the clock before the election.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Data center hyperscalers including AWS, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and others have formed their own trade group called the Data Center Coalition (DCC). For what it\u2019s worth, DCC isn\u2019t endorsing any candidates. But in an interview with <em>The Verge<\/em>, Jess Heck, the group\u2019s director of Texas government affairs, says, \u201cIt\u2019s very clear that our members share the same goals as Gov. Abbott and the legislature. We want to be true partners, good neighbors in every Texas community where we operate.\u201d Heck didn\u2019t confirm whether any of its members are providing any campaign support for Abbott.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cAn attempt to run out the clock before the election\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Eduardo Leal, press secretary for Abbott\u2019s campaign, said in an email to <em>The Verge<\/em> that \u201cUnder [Abbott\u2019s] standards, data centers must pay for their own electric infrastructure, add power instead of only adding demand, reuse their own water, reduce the cost of electricity for Texans, not disrupt residential neighborhoods, and eliminate reliance on outdated taxpayer-funded incentives.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Abbott signed a state <a href=\"https:\/\/insideclimatenews.org\/news\/10102025\/texas-grid-operators-and-regulators-iron-out-new-rules-for-data-centers\/\">Senate bill<\/a> into law last year that directs the Public Utility Commission of Texas to reassess how it allocates transmission costs in order to keep rates from rising disproportionately for residential customers. And this June, he <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-directs-puc-and-ercot-to-shield-texans-from-data-center-infrastructure-costs\">proposed<\/a> more measures to force companies to cover the costs of infrastructure upgrades needed to serve their data centers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Abbott\u2019s biggest competitor, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, has eked out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kxan.com\/news\/texas-politics\/new-texas-polling-shows-talarico-hinojosa-leading-paxton-abbott-in-tight-races\/\">narrow lead recently<\/a> in some polls after strengthening her language against data centers \u2014 calling for a moratorium on development until the state legislature passes more protections. \u201cI think her campaign has made a ton of inroads into moderate Republican communities because of her stance on data centers,\u201d says Anthony Elmo, public education funding defender for Good Jobs First, which recently cofounded another <a href=\"https:\/\/goodjobsfirst.org\/data-center-shutdowns\/texas-data-center-reform-coalition\/\">coalition<\/a> pushing for data center reforms in Texas alongside other advocacy groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Hinojosa has skyrocketed from a relatively obscure local official to a serious contender for the governor\u2019s seat, largely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/10\/16\/gina-hinojosa-greg-abbott-texas-governor-race\/\">on a populist message<\/a> that caters to residents\u2019 frustration with Big Tech companies grabbing land for data centers. Even so, she might not be convincing enough for conservative rural voters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Candidates from both sides of the aisle were pretty soft on data centers up until the party conventions earlier this year, says Miriam Cobb, who cofounded the Texas Coalition Against Data Centers earlier this year (which is also part of We the People Texas). Texans can see the political posturing from Hinojosa, too, she says. One of Hinojosa\u2019s major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonchronicle.com\/projects\/2026\/abbott-hinojosa-top-donors\/\">donors<\/a> has been the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which recently formed an \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/american-infrastructure-alliance-launches-first-nationwide-partnership-between-labor--business-to-advance-responsible-data-center-infrastructure-growth-302892027.html\">American Infrastructure Alliance<\/a>\u201d with OpenAI and data center developers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201c[Voters] know she wasn\u2019t against it from a place of understanding or sincerity, it\u2019s something she knows she has to say now,\u201d Cobb tells <em>The Verge<\/em>, adding that she\u2019ll be writing in an independent candidate come Election Day. Even with many conservatives \u2014 some of them now claiming to be single-issue voters on data centers \u2014 skeptical of both parties\u2019 candidates, Cobb still expects Republicans to lose seats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac1 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<hr class=\"duet--article--divider _1044qizj thksxb0\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Paxton, the Republican candidate for Senate, is attempting to atone for his previous support of data centers. He voted for the sales tax exemptions as a state senator in 2013, although he now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/10\/18\/paxton-talarico-energy-prices-senate-race-texas\/\">says he\u2019d support a repeal<\/a>. In September, he announced an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oag.state.tx.us\/es\/node\/287396\">investigation<\/a> into hundreds of data centers\u2019 water use. Paxton also launched an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/news\/releases\/attorney-general-paxton-investigates-ai-data-center-development-taylor-over-potential-misuse-land\">investigation<\/a> into the case in Taylor over whether it\u2019s legal for land deeded for parkland to be developed into a data center. And he\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox7austin.com\/election\/james-talarcio-ken-paxton-texas-data-center-plan\">aligned himself with Abbott\u2019s proposals<\/a> to impose stronger light and noise restrictions on data centers, limit construction in rural areas, and push developers to cover the costs of new energy infrastructure. But he also reportedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funding this year from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonpublicmedia.org\/articles\/news\/politics\/election-2026\/2026\/08\/11\/559188\/data-center-industry-contributes-thousands-to-ken-paxton-campaign-texas-attorney-general-james-talarico\/\">data center interests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--block-placement _1xorkac2 _1xorkac0 duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-pullquote c39lj10\">\n<div class=\"c39lj11\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup c39lj12 _19wv7tc9\">\u201cTrump keeps saying, you know, \u2018Let them in, let them in, let them in\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Talarico, meanwhile, has a similar plan to stop data centers \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/jamestalarico.com\/issue\/social-media-artificial-intelligence-tech\/\">from jacking up our utility bills<\/a>.\u201d But he also claims to want to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/jamestalarico.com\/issue\/social-media-artificial-intelligence-tech\/\">empower local communities to decide whether they want a data center in their town<\/a>,\u201d a jab at Republicans including Paxton who have either stayed mum on whether counties should be allowed to make permitting decisions on data centers rather than the state or have actively curtailed their ability to do so. Abbott signed the so-called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2023\/06\/07\/texas-republicans-cities-local-control\/\">\u201cDeath Star\u201d bill<\/a> into law in 2023 barring counties and municipalities from crafting regulations that contradict state law. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kxan.com\/news\/local\/san-marcos\/state-senator-says-san-marcos-data-center-ban-will-likely-be-challenged\/\">Republicans have<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/06\/30\/texas-san-marcos-data-center-ban-zoning-laws\/\">cited the Death Star law in legal challenges to local moratoriums<\/a> on data centers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">While the Senate race between Talarico and Paxton is in the national spotlight over the prospect of a Democrat flipping the seat, it\u2019s probably less important for Texans concerned most about data centers, advocates tell <em>The Verge<\/em>. The race is too politically polarized to flip voters on the single issue, Cobb says, and neither candidate has given a very convincing position on how to rein in data centers anyway. Neither campaign responded to press inquiries from <em>The Verge<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Working at the federal level, the best thing the senator-elect could do would be to push back against President Donald Trump\u2019s data center agenda and ensure Texas can moderate data center development without interference, she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cWe want assurances that you\u2019re gonna let us deal with it instead of what\u2019s been happening, where Trump keeps saying, you know, \u2018Let them in, let them in, let them in,\u2019\u201d Cobb tells <em>The Verge<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">Cobb still sees construction traffic clogging two-lane rural roads leading to data center projects that have avoided Abbott\u2019s partial moratorium. Residents are worried about the traffic jams blocking emergency vehicles, especially when fire weather kicks up. In some areas, Texans have seen property values drop, she adds. Farmers are giving up land that their families have tended to for generations. In other neighborhoods, an influx of new workers arriving for the data center \u201cgold rush\u201d is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kut.org\/energy-environment\/2026-08-12\/abilene-tx-stargate-ai-data-center-economy-housing-crisis\">exacerbating housing shortages and making rent more unaffordable<\/a> for locals. In either case, data center opposition coalition members say they\u2019re worried about a loss of culture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1044qizi _18mzr4b1 _18mzr4b0 _19wv7tc1\">\u201cIt\u2019s not for nothing,\u201d Cobb says. \u201cThey have real community \u2026 and now they\u2019re losing it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tly2fw0\"><span class=\"tly2fw2\"><strong>Follow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"tly2fw3\">\n<li id=\"follow-author-article_footer-dmcyOmF1dGhvclByb2ZpbGU6Mjg3\"><span aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"gnx4pm0 _1618ekm2 _1uf8q814 _19wv7tc5 _1618ekm0\"><span class=\"_1ajq89kf _1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Justine Calma<\/span><\/span><\/span><br 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_1ajq89k1 _1ajq89k0\"><\/span><span class=\"_1618ekm9\">Science<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<aside id=\"popover-dmcyOmNhdGVnb3J5OjE3MA==-article_footer\" style=\"position:absolute;left:0;top:0;visibility:hidden\" class=\"_1wu3rm0 _1se63890\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm1\"><button class=\"_1wu3rm3\"><title>Close<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"_1wu3rm5\">Science<\/div>\n<p class=\"fv263x1\">Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"duet--cta--button _11kb06m1 _11kb06m0 fv263x2 _11kb06mg\"><span><title>Follow<\/title><\/span><span>Follow<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"fv263x4\"><a class=\"fv263x5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/science\">See All <!-- -->Science<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _1csojp80\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0 bpecqn1\">\n<div class=\"bpecqni bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqnn bpecqnm _19wv7tc2 _1p81jqc0\">More in: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/902546\/data-centers-ai-energy-power-grids-controversy\">All the latest updates on AI data centers<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj4 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd2 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019393\/data-centers-highway-robbery\">Highway robbers are targeting trucks carrying data center components.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepg jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Marina Galperina<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T13:58:18+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj4 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd2 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/policy\/1019152\/data-centers-midterm-elections\">Data center backlash is uniting America<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepg jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Lauren Feiner<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T10:00:00+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj4 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd2 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1018994\/anthropic-ipo-ai-data-center-energy-climate-risk\">Anthropic is burning gas to feed the AI boom<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpepg jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Justine Calma<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-26T21:45:31+00:00\">Oct 26<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><!--$--><\/p>\n<div class=\"duet--layout--article-recirc-color-container e3czlx0\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--article-recirc e3czlx1 _1044qiz3\">\n<div class=\"e3czlx3\">\n<div class=\"e3czlx4\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _75r1tr2\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqnj bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqno bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">More in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\">AI<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw0\">\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo1 up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo8 up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Meta quietly launched an \u2018AI pet journal\u2019 app\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/Waddle-World-meta-app-hero.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1020410\/meta-launched-ai-pet-journal-app-waddle-world\">Meta quietly launched an \u2018AI pet journal\u2019 app<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo1 up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo8 up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Researchers are getting tired of OpenAI gatekeeping its breakthroughs\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/STKS537_AI_MATH_7.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019921\/openai-breakthrough-math-computer-science-physics\">Researchers are getting tired of OpenAI gatekeeping its breakthroughs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo1 up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo8 up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VisionQuest is what happens when AI really goes rogue\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/107-90190_RC.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.014048890137673%2C0%2C99.971902219725%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1017064\/visionquest-marvel-rogue-ai\">VisionQuest is what happens when AI really goes rogue<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo1 up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo8 up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Anthropic\u2019s elaborate plan to keep Wall Street at bay\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/gettyimages-2280291188.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.02498750624688%2C100%2C99.950024987506&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019470\/anthropic-ipo-resist-investor-pressure-cut-corners-safety\">Anthropic\u2019s elaborate plan to keep Wall Street at bay<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo1 up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo8 up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Firefox\u2019s Smart Window adds AI form filling and webpage monitoring\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/firefox-fill.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=8.0259026687598%2C0%2C83.94819466248%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019551\/firefox-smart-window-ai-fill-forms\">Firefox\u2019s Smart Window adds AI form filling and webpage monitoring<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card up4voo1 up4voo0 _7uluu53\">\n<div class=\"up4voo8 up4voo7 up4voop up4vooa _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Google\u2019s next Genie AI model generates more realistic experiences\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-26-at-3.00.35-PM.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=8.184855233853%2C0%2C83.630289532294%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"up4voo6\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/1019076\/google-genie-4-ai-model\">Google\u2019s next Genie AI model generates more realistic experiences<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_1hofmaw2\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Meta quietly launched an \u2018AI pet journal\u2019 app\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/Waddle-World-meta-app-hero.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Meta quietly launched an \u2018AI pet journal\u2019 app\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/Waddle-World-meta-app-hero.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1020410\/meta-launched-ai-pet-journal-app-waddle-world\">Meta quietly launched an \u2018AI pet journal\u2019 app<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpeph jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Robert Hart<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-28T11:27:30+00:00\">An hour ago<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Researchers are getting tired of OpenAI gatekeeping its breakthroughs\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/STKS537_AI_MATH_7.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.666666666667%2C0%2C66.666666666667%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Researchers are getting tired of OpenAI gatekeeping its breakthroughs\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/STKS537_AI_MATH_7.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019921\/openai-breakthrough-math-computer-science-physics\">Researchers are getting tired of OpenAI gatekeeping its breakthroughs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpeph jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Robert Hart<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T20:48:58+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VisionQuest is what happens when AI really goes rogue\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/107-90190_RC.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.676032593425%2C0%2C66.64793481315%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VisionQuest is what happens when AI really goes rogue\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/107-90190_RC.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0.014048890137673%2C0%2C99.971902219725%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1017064\/visionquest-marvel-rogue-ai\">VisionQuest is what happens when AI really goes rogue<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpeph jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Charles Pulliam-Moore<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T17:30:00+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Anthropic\u2019s elaborate plan to keep Wall Street at bay\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/gettyimages-2280291188.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=16.65%2C0%2C66.7%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Anthropic\u2019s elaborate plan to keep Wall Street at bay\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/gettyimages-2280291188.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0%2C0.02498750624688%2C100%2C99.950024987506&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019470\/anthropic-ipo-resist-investor-pressure-cut-corners-safety\">Anthropic\u2019s elaborate plan to keep Wall Street at bay<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpeph jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Robert Hart<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T16:51:22+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Firefox\u2019s Smart Window adds AI form filling and webpage monitoring\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/firefox-fill.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=22.01726844584%2C0%2C55.96546310832%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Firefox\u2019s Smart Window adds AI form filling and webpage monitoring\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/firefox-fill.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=8.0259026687598%2C0%2C83.94819466248%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019551\/firefox-smart-window-ai-fill-forms\">Firefox\u2019s Smart Window adds AI form filling and webpage monitoring<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpeph jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Emma Roth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T16:14:18+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj1 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqj7 _1ismqj6 _1ismqjc _1ismqjh _1cnxcye3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Google\u2019s next Genie AI model generates more realistic experiences\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjf i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-26-at-3.00.35-PM.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=22.123236822569%2C0%2C55.753526354863%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Google\u2019s next Genie AI model generates more realistic experiences\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"_1ismqjg i7ks070\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-26-at-3.00.35-PM.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=8.184855233853%2C0%2C83.630289532294%2C100&amp;w=2400\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd3 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/1019076\/google-genie-4-ai-model\">Google\u2019s next Genie AI model generates more realistic experiences<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jelpeph jelpepd jelpep0\"><span><span class=\"_1g89o322 _1g89o321 _19wv7tc5\"><span><span>Jay Peters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw2 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5 _1044qizs\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T16:00:00+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--ad--native-ad-linkset _14xz0mv4 _14xz0mv5 _14xz0mva hidden\" data-native-ad-id=\"container\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden\">\n<div class=\"dynamic-native-ad-native_ad_linkset_link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\"><\/p>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"_14xz0mv7\"><span data-native-ad-id=\"preamble\" class=\"_14xz0mv8 _14xz0mv9\">Advertiser Content From<\/span><\/p>\n<div><img data-native-ad-id=\"logo\" src alt=\"Sponsor Logo\" class=\"_14xz0mvg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_14xz0mvj\" data-native-ad-id=\"title\">This is the title for the native ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"e3czlx6\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--header-pattern _75r1tr2\">\n<div class=\"_75r1tr3\">\n<div class=\"duet--layout--page-header bpecqn0\">\n<div class=\"bpecqnj bpecqnf\">\n<h2 class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup bpecqno bpecqnm _19wv7tc2\">Top Stories<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sticky-nav-trigger\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_75r1tr4\">\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj4 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjj _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep7 jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 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biggest updates<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj4 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep7 jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T20:48:58+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/ai-artificial-intelligence\/1019921\/openai-breakthrough-math-computer-science-physics\">Researchers are getting tired of OpenAI gatekeeping its breakthroughs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--content-cards--content-card _1ismqj4 _1ismqj0 _7uluu53 _1ismqjk _1ismqjl _1ismqj5\">\n<div class=\"_1ismqji\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div class>\n<div class=\"jelpep7 jelpep4 jelpep0\"><span class=\"duet--article--timestamp g4xafw8 g4xafw0 _19wv7tc5\"><time datetime=\"2026-10-27T22:55:05+00:00\">Oct 27<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"_19wv7tc9 _1d4s5vd7 _1d4s5vd0\"><a class=\"_7uluu50 _7uluu54 _7uluu55\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/tech\/1020145\/iphone-duo-crackgate-broken-screen-hinge\">Here\u2019s why the iPhone Duo\u2019s hinge could be cracking the screen<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--\/$--><\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AI Close AI Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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