Microsoft Begins Construction on New AI Data Center in Metro Atlanta

ATLANTA — Microsoft has broken ground on a new artificial-intelligence data center in metro Atlanta, adding another major tech investment to one of the fastest-growing data-center corridors in the Southeast.

The project, highlighted in a company announcement Monday, is part of Microsoft’s nationwide expansion to support AI computing. The Atlanta facility will operate alongside a companion site in Wisconsin, with both campuses linked by a dedicated fiber-optic network designed to move massive amounts of data between the two regions.

Officials have not released the exact address, but Microsoft confirmed the complex is already under construction “in the Atlanta area.” The company chose metro Atlanta for its reliable power infrastructure, existing tech workforce, and proximity to long-haul fiber routes — all key requirements for high-density AI computing.

The facility will support a new generation of GPU-driven AI systems and is expected to run on advanced liquid-cooling technology that uses little to no water. That detail has drawn early interest from local officials, who are balancing the economic upside of recruiting data centers with concerns about water usage and energy demand across the region.

Georgia has emerged as a national leader in data-center construction over the past decade, driven by a mix of available land, competitive energy rates, and major corporate users. But the rapid growth has also led to questions about long-term infrastructure strain. In Atlanta, several local governments, particularly in DeKalb and Douglas counties, have raised concerns about grid impacts and tax abatements tied to similar projects.

For Microsoft, the company says the Atlanta site is designed to anchor its long-term AI strategy. The buildout reflects a national trend of hyperscale operators choosing metro Atlanta as an East Coast hub, competing with North Virginia, Dallas, and Phoenix.

Local economic officials expect the project to create construction jobs and a smaller number of permanent technical positions once operations begin. Microsoft has not disclosed hiring numbers, but data-center campuses typically employ facility engineers, security personnel and cooling-system specialists.

As the site comes online, metro Atlanta residents and policymakers will likely continue weighing the benefits of high-dollar tech investment against the region’s growing energy and land-use pressures. For now, Microsoft’s move underscores the region’s rising profile — placing Atlanta squarely in the middle of the country’s AI-infrastructure race.