The company's own version of an AI chatbot, Grok, has become famed for its relaxed regulations which allow users more freedom to generate potentially hateful or insensitive images. The area was already suffering from unhealthy air quality due to smog, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Musk's plant turbines spew an estimated 1,200 to 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, or NOx, further contributing to the smog issue in the area Multiple cases of asthma and cancer in local families are attributed to the air pollution, and many residents are calling the xAI's permits to be denied and the plant shut down Musk referred to Grok as 'the most fun AI in the world.' But local residents feel as though their health is suffering the sake of the 'fun' images. Multiple cases of asthma and cancer in local families are attributed to the air pollution, and many residents are calling the xAI's permits to be denied and the plant shut down. But Musk's history with environmental disregard has been equally problematic. Tesla was cited for 33 air quality violations in 2021, SpaceX was fined by Texas after allegedly dumping industrial wastewater without a permit, and The Boring Co. was fined by Texas for failing to get a permit to discharge industrial stormwater. Now, xAI has also been accused of being deceptive regarding the number of turbines running. Memphis Light, Gas and Water and chamber officials suggested in the summer of 2024 that Musk's company had 18 turbines of varying sizes - xAI filed for permits for 15 turbines at 16MW each. At the end of March, environmental groups flew over the facility and took photographs of the turbines. The aerial photos pictured 35 turbines onsite, Politico reported. Tesla was cited for 33 air quality violations in 2021, SpaceX was fined by Texas after allegedly dumping industrial wastewater without a permit, and The Boring Co. was fined by Texas for failing to get a permit to discharge industrial stormwater At the end of March, environmental groups flew over the facility and took photographs of the turbines. The aerial photos pictured 35 turbines onsite, Politico reported However, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said only 15 were actually running and the remainder were backups. Yet, in late April, the groups flew over the site again with thermal cameras and found 33 turbines were giving off significant heat signals which signify the generation of electricity and pollution. In a webinar in April, Lynn said xAI did not need air permits for 35 turbines onsite because 'there's rules that say temporary sources can be in place for up to 364 days a year. They are not subject to permitting requirements.' The loophole, Lynn argued, is that should the permit be approved, seven turbines will remain onsite while the 28 others would be 'temporary' and would be 'slowly' moved out as substations are constructed. John Walke, a former attorney in EPA's Office of General Counsel who now works for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the outlet: 'xAI's position is quite suspect - I mean they're huge. The temporary or not temporary argument is irrelevant.' Yet, the Health Department had a consultation with EPA in August, during which the federal regulator agreed that the turbines do not require permits. In November, EPA Region 4 Air and Radiation Director Denisse Diaz wrote to the Health Department director that although it was the understanding that 'the turbines are expected to cease operations in the next few months,' a more formal review process was necessary to confirm. It was also suggested that the county set up air monitoring to confirm the turbines emissions. The turbines Musk has implemented are only temporary, but the damage they can do is immense, as xAI's environmental consultant Shannon Lynn said during a webinar that they don't require federal permits for hazardous emissions As Musk continues to grow the company, and Colossus - which added double the number of onsite computer chips - came online in September, he has pushed for more. In October, xAI asked Memphis Light, Gas and Water to look into the possibility of adding 260 MW through a new substation on another piece of land xAI leased in the area. But the residents of Boxtown are ready to have clean air again. Easter Mayo Knox, 74 years old and with chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, lowered her KN95 mask to protect herself from the pollution. She told the outlet: 'He may be a millionaire, a billionaire - whatever kind of 'aire' he is - but what we need her is clean air.'