AI and data centers are incredibly unpopular in every poll

Poll data released by The New York Times and Siena University confirms that AI and data centers face significant unpopularity among the public. Asked if they support or oppose the construction of data centers to power AI tech, 61 percent of the 1,503 likely voters surveyed in early September said they were opposed, with only 14 percent stating they strongly support the initiatives. The split was relatively even among 2024 Donald Trump voters, showing 49 percent support compared to 45 percent opposition, while respondents who voted for Kamala Harris or did not vote leaned toward opposition at 74 percent and 67 percent, respectively. Fifty-six percent of voters opposed to data centers supported implementing limits, while 38 percent preferred a total ban. The leading reasons for opposition included environmental and water usage concerns at 32 percent, the impact on local communities at 21 percent, general distrust or dislike of AI at 18 percent, followed by regulation and economic concerns at 10 and 9 percent, respectively. These findings align with previous polls, such as an NBC News poll in March and a Gallup poll in May, which also showed low local acceptance of AI infrastructure. Despite the clear opposition, AI and data centers ranked low on the list of issues that voters deemed most important for their midterm vote. Across most demographics, AI and data centers registered at less than 1 percent, with minor exceptions among younger voters aged 18–29, where 3 percent prioritized the issue over traditional concerns like the economy, foreign policy, inflation, and political opposition.