Amazon vows $1 bn for data center towns, decries 'myths'

Tech giants including Amazon are moving to win over US communities hostile to the construction of data centers (Brendan Smialowski) Amazon on Friday pledged more than $1 billion over five years for US communities that host its data centers, the latest tech giant seeking to win over residents increasingly hostile to the AI-fueled construction boom. The "Built Together" program, unveiled by Amazon Web Services chief Matt Garman in a 3,000-word blog post, will fund free community college degrees and trades training as well as energy-efficiency upgrades for schools and homes.