AI Boom Fuels Housing Crisis in Texas City
ABILENE, Texas – An artificial intelligence boom in Abilene, Texas, has exacerbated an existing housing crisis, leaving many residents struggling to find affordable places to live, according to Time. Community worker Mike Prado, who has worked in Abilene for a decade, described the current situation as "the worst hed ever seen."
Prado, who once experienced homelessness himself, told Time that he witnessed the crisis firsthand while distributing blankets, socks, and jackets to unhoused individuals in November 2025. One man told Prado outside of the Hope Haven offices, an Abilene nonprofit, "The AI plant took all the housing, man, I cant find nothing. I cant execute my voucher."
The influx of tech companies and workers associated with the AI industry has driven up housing costs, making it difficult for low-income residents to secure housing. The situation highlights the potential unintended consequences of rapid technological advancements on local communities.
In other news, singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo was named the fourth recipient of the Universal Music Group x Reverb Amplifier Award, Variety reported. The award recognizes Rodrigo's "outstanding commitment to driving positive change through her music, platform, and direct engagement with fans," according to Variety.
Halle Berry told The Cut that she was disturbed by California Governor Gavin Newsom's claim that they would "reconcile" after a disagreement, Variety reported. Berry stated that Newsom never reached out to her. "If He’s Going to Run for President, He Can’t Sleep on Women," Berry said, according to Variety.
Vox published articles discussing the importance of being mindful of what is posted online and the hidden double standards driving the housing crisis. Marina Bolotnikova, a senior reporter for Vox's Future Perfect section, wrote that American urban planning has been devoted to layering on ways to all but ban apartment buildings. Jonquilyn Hill, host of Vox's "Explain It to Me," wrote about how to deal with embarrassing old posts.
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