A new poll from The New York Times and Siena University reveals that 61 percent of likely voters oppose the construction of data centers required for AI technology.

Key Points

• Survey data from 1,503 likely voters shows only 14 percent strongly support new AI data center construction.
• Opposition is highest among Kamala Harris voters at 74 percent, compared to 45 percent among Donald Trump voters.
• Primary concerns include environmental and water usage impacts at 32 percent and local community disruption at 21 percent.
• Among those opposed, 56 percent favor stricter regulations while 38 percent support a total ban on new facilities.
• Despite widespread opposition, AI infrastructure remains a low priority for voters, ranking below 1 percent for most demographic groups.

Why it Matters

Public resistance to data center expansion could complicate infrastructure development and increase regulatory scrutiny for major technology companies. While the issue currently lacks political urgency, the strong negative sentiment suggests potential future hurdles for the energy-intensive AI industry.