USA: AI Data Centers Rejected, Minor Issue for Voters
According to a survey conducted by the New York Times and the University of Siena, a majority of voters oppose the construction of data centers for AI. However, the topic remains marginal in voting priorities, and trust in managing it is divided among parties. Other recent polls indicate a high level of rejection.
A Low-Priority Topic in Voting and Nearly Balanced Trust
AI and data centers rank among the least important issues for voters during the midterm elections. In most demographic groups, less than 1% of respondents consider this topic a priority, with the exception of those aged 18-29, where 3% place it at the top, far behind the economy, foreign policy, inflation, or opposition to Trump or the Republicans. Regarding the management of this issue, voters mostly trust their own party: out of 554 respondents, 40% cite the Democrats, 42% the Republicans, and 18% are undecided or refuse to answer.
Le brief IA que les pros lisent chaque soir
Les 7 actus IA du jour, décryptées en 5 min. Gratuit.
Inclus dès l'inscription : notre sélection des meilleurs guides & comparatifs IA.
Choisissez votre rythme
Gratuit · Pas de spam · Désabonnement en 1 clic
Majority Opposition and Reasons Cited Against Projects
61% of the 1,503 likely voters surveyed in early September oppose the construction of data centers to support AI technology, while 14% express strong support. Among the opponents, 56% want limits, and 38% prefer a total ban. The main reasons cited include environmental and water usage concerns (32%), impact on local communities (21%), distrust or dislike of AI (18%), regulatory issues (10%), and economic factors (9%).
Political Divisions and Insights from Other Surveys
Among voters for Donald Trump 2024, opinions are divided, with 49% in support and 45% opposed to the construction of AI data centers. Those who voted for Kamala Harris oppose it at 74%, and those who did not vote oppose it at 67%. The data published Tuesday by the New York Times and the University of Siena confirm the low popularity of these projects. Other surveys support this trend: in March, NBC News reported that AI was less popular than ICE, and in May, Gallup found that seven out of ten Americans opposed the local construction of data centers for AI.
Brief IA — L'actualité IA en français
L'essentiel de l'actualité de l'intelligence artificielle, décrypté et expliqué chaque jour.