The data center fight is hitting a fever pitch. Here's how they actually work

Data centers have become the face of AI backlash, with celebrities, politicians and protesters pushing to slow their growth. Why it matters: America's sharply rising public opposition to data centers — which fuel our everyday use of the internet — could pose an existential threat to AI's growth. State of play: There are at least 4,000 data centers nationwide, with some 3,000 under construction or planned. The centers are often big, windowless warehouses with few people in sight, and many are…