Voters Dislike AI and Data Centers, Poll Finds

A new poll from The New York Times and Siena University has found that 61 percent of respondents oppose the construction of data centers built to power AI technology. The result points to broad public hostility not only toward AI as a concept but also toward its physical footprint. Data centers require land, electricity, water for cooling, and often local tax incentives. When those costs land in a community, the benefits can feel abstract, while the disruptions are immediate. The poll also suggests that neither major party has gained a clear political advantage from the issue. That is notable because data center siting decisions are increasingly contested at the municipal level, where planning boards, city councils, and local residents have real influence. Opposition can slow projects, raise costs, and force companies to rethink where and how they build. Energy availability, grid strain, noise, water use, and transparency around incentives are all likely to shape local debates. For AI companies, the findings are a warning. The industry's growth depends on massive compute infrastructure, but it cannot assume communities will welcome new facilities. Companies may need to offer clearer local benefits, invest in cleaner energy, reduce water consumption, and engage residents earlier in the process. Politicians, meanwhile, may face pressure to take positions as the issue moves from zoning hearings to broader campaigns. The survey does not necessarily mean every project will be blocked. Some communities may still accept data centers if they receive credible economic benefits and environmental safeguards. But the scale of opposition shows that AI's infrastructure boom is now a political and social issue, not just a technical one. How companies and governments respond could determine how quickly, and where, the next wave of AI capacity gets built.