What changed
San Antonio City Councilmember Ric Galvan says data centers have changed sharply since their arrival in the city in the 2000s. Relatively unassuming office-like buildings have become hyperscale facilities spanning millions of square feet and housing the physical infrastructure for AI.
Why it matters
The change is not just architectural. AI now has a much larger physical footprint, making the infrastructure behind software increasingly visible in the places where it is built.
That creates a practical challenge for cities: a facility designed to blend into its surroundings may still represent an enormous industrial presence. The report offers no conclusion about local approval, environmental effects, costs or public opinion. What it does show is a widening gap between the modest appearance of early data centers and the scale of today’s AI infrastructure.
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