Mississippi residents have filed a class action lawsuit against Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI and SpaceX, alleging that a power plant fueling nearby data centers is generating excessive noise and vibrations that have negatively impacted their health and property values. The lawsuit, publicly filed on Tuesday in federal court in Oxford, Mississippi, accuses the companies of negligence and creating a public nuisance.

The core of the complaint centers on a power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, which reportedly uses gas-fired turbines to power data centers developed by xAI. Plaintiffs claim this facility subjects residents to "omnipresent and inescapable" noise and vibrations, which they state has caused emotional distress and diminished home values. The lawsuit seeks damages for these alleged harms, as well as disgorgement of unspecified profits.

Three residents have initiated the case on behalf of a class estimated to include over 10,000 members. According to the lawsuit, the "AI boom is wreaking havoc on communities across the United States" by imposing such disturbances. A lawyer for the plaintiffs, Robert Wiygul, stated that homes are meant to be sanctuaries, and the constant invasion of noise disrupts this fundamental peace.

MZX Tech, identified as an xAI subsidiary, is also named as a defendant in the suit. Elon Musk himself is not listed as a defendant. The lawsuit comes amidst significant investment in AI infrastructure, with over $20 billion reportedly invested by xAI to build the Southaven plant, with the backing of Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves.

This is not the first legal challenge concerning the Southaven facility. In April, the civil rights group NAACP filed a separate lawsuit against xAI, accusing the company of violating US environmental rules related to the plant and data centers. That case is currently ongoing.

Adding another layer of complexity, the US Department of Justice has indicated it may intervene in the NAACP case. In a court filing last month, the department suggested the dispute raises significant legal and policy questions regarding the government's role in the development of AI infrastructure.

SpaceX and xAI have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. The outcome of this class action, alongside the NAACP's environmental suit and the potential for federal intervention, could set precedents for the regulation of AI development and its impact on local communities across the country.

The plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation for alleged emotional distress, reduced property values, and other harms, in addition to the return of profits made by the companies. The scale of the alleged nuisance and the number of affected residents highlight growing concerns about the unchecked expansion of AI technology and its potential environmental and social costs.