Voter Sentiment on Data Centers and AI Technology

As tech companies in the U.S. compete in the realm of artificial intelligence, a new national poll indicates that voters are cautious about the rapid expansion of data centers. Instead of aggressively pursuing growth to keep up on a global scale, they seem to prefer addressing local issues first.

In fact, a significant 70% of respondents are opposed to establishing data centers in their areas, with only 30% supporting the idea. This disapproval is notably strong among certain demographics, such as college-educated white women (84% against) and liberal voters (80% against), whereas there’s somewhat more support from MAGA supporters (46%) and Republican men (45%).

Among those who do favor data centers, the primary reason—cited by 60%—is the promise of economic advantages like job creation, community investment, and increased tax revenue. A smaller group (21%) sees the technological benefits as being crucial for future advancements. Interestingly, just 2% mention maintaining a competitive edge as their main reason.

Opponents of data centers often express environmental concerns, with half of them (50%) prioritizing issues like energy consumption, pollution, and noise. Other issues, such as quality of life (14%) and economic impact (11%), receive far less attention.

When it comes to general views on artificial intelligence, opinions are somewhat less negative. About 45% of individuals hold favorable views toward AI, contrasted with 54% who view it unfavorably—a slight decrease in negativity from earlier this year.

Support for AI is notably higher among certain groups: MAGA Republicans (55% favorable), those with postgraduate degrees (52%), and conservatives (50%). Meanwhile, Democrats (41%) and younger voters (38%) tend to view it less positively.

A considerable majority—around 80%—favor slowing down data center construction to consider environmental and local issues, while about 20% want to push forward to gain a global competitive advantage, particularly concerning China.

Although many are in favor of these delays, it’s worth noting that MAGA Republicans (36%) and very conservative voters (35%) are more inclined to support rapid expansion.

Interestingly, younger voters, often thought of as tech-savvy, actually show the least favorable opinions about AI, with just 38% viewing it positively compared to 48% of those between 30 and 44 and 44% of those aged 45 and older.

Regardless of generational differences, opposition to data centers remains steady across all age groups. Roughly 70% of people from various age ranges are against their construction, with about 80% wanting to pause development to deal with community issues.

This survey, conducted from July 17 to 20, included 1,003 registered voters and carries a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. The methodology involved a mix of live interviews and online surveys, reflecting a diverse demographic landscape.