The backlash against AI, in 4 charts

Opposition to AI data centers in the United States has significantly increased, with a Heatmap survey in May revealing that 55% of respondents strongly opposed a data center being built near their homes, a substantial rise from 24% in August of the previous year. A separate Gallup poll conducted in May found that 71% of Americans would oppose a new AI data center in their area, with nearly half expressing strong opposition. This sentiment contrasts with opposition to nuclear power plants, which garnered only 53% opposition in the same Gallup survey. While concerns about resource consumption, such as water and energy, are cited by half of the opponents, a portion also expressed a dislike for AI itself. The rapid growth in AI development, involving billions of dollars in investment, is driving the demand for these data centers, a fact that voters appear to recognize. The public's perception of AI is influenced by concerns about job displacement, high energy and water usage, potential erosion of critical thinking skills, and broader societal risks including increased surveillance and the potential encouragement of teen suicide. Despite these risks, AI also holds potential benefits, such as accelerating drug development and climate change solutions.