'AI faces a growing backlash from the American public' due to its energy consumption and impact on jobs

Artificial intelligence and its required data center infrastructure are encountering increasing bipartisan opposition across the United States, driven by public and political concerns regarding energy and water consumption, as well as the potential for job displacement. In Maine, Democratic Governor Janet Mills announced on April 17 that she is carefully reviewing a bill that would establish the first statewide moratorium on new data center construction. Concurrently, at least 11 other states are considering similar legislation to pause data center development, or to cap their electricity and water usage, and remove tax incentives. At the federal level, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced legislation proposing a nationwide moratorium on data centers. This sentiment is part of a broader backlash, as exemplified by New Brunswick, a town near New York, which gained attention for rejecting a data center project following local citizen protests. A recent NBC News poll indicated that 57% of Americans believe AI's risks outweigh its benefits. The discontent spans the political spectrum; former President Donald Trump on March 10 sought commitments from AI industry leaders to mitigate their facilities' impacts. Republican lawmakers, including Senator Josh Hawley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have voiced concerns about AI's effects on jobs and the economy, with Hawley criticizing "tech barons" for automating sectors. These policy discussions and public protests coincide with a lawsuit filed against OpenAI by parents who allege the company's AI chatbots contributed to their 16-year-old son's suicide.