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technology17h ago
Meta putting up tents across the US to house AI servers, like ‘a scene out of the movie Mad Max’ — structures take three months to build and use jet engines for power
- Meta is deploying rapid deployment structures (tents) across the U.S. to house AI servers, speeding up data center readiness.
- New Albany, Ohio, hosts a site with five tents and five buildings started in April 2026, expanding Meta's AI infrastructure footprint.
- Meta’s tents are part of a broader power strategy using behind-the-meter turbines to generate on-site power.
- The approach draws comparisons to Elon Musk’s xAI for rapid build-outs and faster deployment of AI infrastructure.
- Industry observers say the tents provide a quicker but less sturdy alternative to traditional steel and concrete buildings.
- Meta plans to roll out additional sites, continuing a rapid deployment strategy for AI data centers.
- The tent strategy is framed as a way to meet surging compute demand and speed time to online availability.
- Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously signaled preference for rapid deployment of AI infrastructure through non-traditional structures.
- Analysts note the tents involve temporary structures termed ‘rapid deployment structures’ and may be a temporary phase in scaling.
- Experts compare the approach with on-site turbine power to reduce grid dependence and improve reliability.
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