Americans are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of AI, new poll finds
A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago indicates that 53% of Americans are concerned about the environmental impacts of AI and data centers, a significant increase from last year. This concern is driven by worries about the substantial electricity consumption of data centers, particularly in areas like northern Virginia.
A new national poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago reveals a growing concern among Americans regarding the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence and the data centers that power it.
The survey found that 53% of Americans are "extremely" or "very" concerned about these environmental impacts, a rise from 41% in the previous year. While Democrats primarily contribute to this increase in concern, the poll highlights broader anxieties about the local effects of data centers. Eriech Tapia, a 30-year-old Republican from Arlington, Virginia, exemplifies this sentiment, noting the proliferation of data centers in northern Virginia and expressing worry about their considerable electricity usage, despite acknowledging their role in maintaining U.S. competitiveness.