Kevin O'Leary says opponents of his Utah data center are 'professional protesters' — and some are powered by AI

Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Kevin O'Leary says paid activists, and some AI-generated ones, are opposed to his Utah data center.

Despite protests, the 40,000-acre project was unanimously approved on Monday.

The finished data center is expected to generate and consume twice the energy used by the whole state.

"Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary is defending his plans for a Utah data center that was just approved by state officials despite community backlash.

O'Leary is dismissing critics of the multibillion-dollar project as "professional protesters" and suggesting some of the opposition is being amplified by artificial intelligence.

In a post on X and an accompanying video, O'Leary, also known as Mr.…