Americans love AI. They don't want the data centers that power it.
While Americans are increasingly adopting AI chatbots, there is significant public opposition to the construction of the data centers required to power them. This tension has become a political challenge, with leaders like Donald Trump arguing that resisting these facilities could harm local economic growth.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights a growing 'NIMBY' challenge for the tech industry as the physical infrastructure needs of AI clash with local community concerns over noise, energy, and land use.
Anti-data center protests have sprouted up across the country. Getty Images More than half of Americans used an AI chatbot in July, according to new data from Morning Consult. Yet 70% of Americans oppose building AI data centers in their communities, according to another recent poll. This story originally appeared on POLITICO and is courtesy of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network. They're ugly. They're noisy. They sprawl across the landscape. They gobble up energy and water. Americans hate data centers and don't trust the Big Tech companies that need them. But they love using the artificial intelligence models they power. More than half of Americans used an AI chatbot in July, according to new data from Morning Consult . And it's not just experimenting — Americans are increasingly using AI chatbots multiple times a week.
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