MEMPHIS, Tenn. – xAI has plans to build a 312,000-square-foot building west of the company’s Whitehaven supercomputer, according to construction permits viewed by FOX13.
The $20 million construction project is east of Tulane Road on the company’s campus of supercomputers. The building, zoned as commercial office space, would be 48 feet tall, according to the permits. FOX13 asked xAI what the purpose of the new space would be, but the company did not respond by deadline.
History of the site
xAI purchased empty warehouse space on the Whitehaven site last year to expand the computing capabilities of “Grok,” the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot. Prior to that, the company had one supercomputer in Southwest Memphis, known as “Colossus 1.” The first Whitehaven building, known as “Colossus 2,” is just north of the state line. By the end of 2025, xAI had purchased the former GXO warehouse in Southaven.
By the end of the year, the building in Whitehaven had “MACROHARD” written on the roof and the building in Southaven had “MACROHARDRR” written on the roof. It’s a jab at the company’s competitor, Microsoft. A month ago, Elon Musk posted on X, “Macrohard or Digital Optimus is a joint xAI-Tesla project, coming as part of Tesla’s investment agreement with xAI.”
Criticism from neighbors
In the meantime, neighbors are fed up and frustrated by the hundreds of construction vehicles driving up and down Tulane Road every day.
“I don’t know why it’s all the construction like that in in a little short like space,” said Henry Collins, who grew up in the neighborhood down the road from the site.
Collins, known as R&B singer, “Ferrari Baby,” wants xAI to build something positive for the community.
xAI has pledged to upgrading the HVAC systems at multiple schools. The company also committed to a wastewater treatment center, but that project was put on hold last week.
“If y’all got money and billionaires and y’all ain’t trying to do that, then why would you try to build a building? It’s not going to help the kids. It’s not going to help the community.”
“Thanks Elon!” said Ira Peters. “Thanks for tearing my neighborhood up!”
After almost fifty years in the neighborhood, Peters told FOX13 he wants out.
“Buy my house and let me go,” he said. “If you want this land so bad, buy my house, let me move to Germantown.”
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