Microsoft Unveils Its First AI “Super Factory” with New Multibillion-Dollar Data Center in Atlanta
Microsoft Corp. announced today the grand opening of its newest multibillion-dollar data center facility in Atlanta, marking the launch of its first artificial intelligence “super factory.” This state-of-the-art data center is set to become a key part of Microsoft’s expanding AI infrastructure, designed to deliver immense computing power while overcoming energy constraints.
**A Network Built for AI Demands**
The massive new server farm will be linked with existing data center infrastructure across the United States, forming a seamless network to support Microsoft’s growing AI workload. The Atlanta facility is a cornerstone of the company’s ambitious plan to double its data center footprint within the next two years.
This site belongs to Microsoft’s larger “Fairwater” network—a new class of dedicated server hubs engineered specifically for training and running AI models at scale. The Fairwater network is designed to provide cutting-edge capabilities to meet the rapidly growing needs of AI developers and enterprises.
**Cutting-Edge Technology and Design**
Spanning over one million square feet on 85 acres of land, the Atlanta data center is Microsoft’s first to feature two floors. This innovative design allows the facility to accommodate twice the amount of computing infrastructure compared to older data centers, enhancing efficiency in both speed and power consumption.
One of the standout technologies at this facility is a new liquid-cooling system. This cooling innovation enables Microsoft to densely pack hundreds of thousands of Nvidia Corp.’s most powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) and other AI accelerators, improving performance while keeping energy use in check. Remarkably, the recycling of virtually all the water used keeps the center’s water consumption equivalent to that of approximately 20 U.S. households.
To connect these powerful GPUs, Microsoft has installed over 120,000 miles of fiber-optic cables at the facility, facilitating data transmission at speeds approaching the speed of light. Scott Guthrie, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Cloud and AI, described this network as a “cutting-edge express lane” dedicated exclusively to AI data traffic.
**Energy Strategy and Geographic Distribution**
While Microsoft did not disclose the exact cost of building the Atlanta data center or its annual electricity consumption, it revealed that the broader Fairwater network will consume “multigigawatts” of power. To manage this demand sustainably, Microsoft has geographically distributed the network’s data centers, including one located in Wisconsin, approximately 700 miles from Atlanta.
This multi-region setup allows Microsoft to tap into a diverse mix of power sources, reducing the risk of overtaxing energy supplies in any single location and ensuring reliable power availability for its AI operations.
**Serving Leading AI Customers**
The Atlanta facility will serve some of the biggest names in AI, including OpenAI, which heavily relies on Microsoft’s compute infrastructure. Other clients include the French startup Mistral AI and Elon Musk’s xAI Corp. Additionally, Microsoft will reserve a portion of the capacity to support its own AI initiatives, including training proprietary models.
**Significant Investment in Data Center Expansion**
Microsoft’s commitment to expanding its AI infrastructure is underscored by recent capital expenditures. The Redmond-based company disclosed that it spent an astonishing $34 billion on capital investments during its fiscal first quarter, with the majority allocated to expanding its data center network. The company plans to continue ramping up infrastructure investments throughout the remainder of the fiscal year.
Microsoft is not alone in this massive build-out. Other technology leaders such as Google LLC, Oracle Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., and Amazon Web Services Inc. are also investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with combined expenditures expected to reach approximately $400 billion this year.
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*Photo: Microsoft*
https://siliconangle.com/2025/11/12/microsoft-brings-atlanta-based-ai-super-factory-online/