Exclusive | Most American voters have favorable view of AI — despite media focus on controversies: poll
A national poll reveals that most American voters hold a favorable view of artificial intelligence, despite media attention on controversies like data centers and economic impacts. Commissioned by Build American AI, the survey suggests that public backlash against AI development is overstated. New York's recent one-year moratorium on data center construction is cited as an example of an AI-related controversy that has generated pushback.
More than half of Americans, 56%, hold a favorable view towards artificial intelligence, according to an exclusive national HarrisX poll obtained by The New York Post. This optimism contrasts with ongoing media discussions about data centers and potential economic upheaval, with 72% believing AI can reduce repetitive tasks and 71% seeing it as a new industrial revolution.
The survey was commissioned by Build American AI, a nonprofit advocacy group, which argues these findings dispute the perception of widespread public backlash against AI. Nathan Leamer, executive director of Build American AI, highlighted the public's positive outlook on AI's benefits, from medical breakthroughs to economic growth. The group is an offshoot of Leading The Future, a pro-tech super PAC funded by prominent industry figures including OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, and Andreessen Horowitz.
While voters recognize benefits such as curing diseases, enhancing US competitiveness against China, and domestic reindustrialization, views on safety risks are more divided. Fifty-three percent of voters believe the U.S. should quickly develop AI despite risks due to foreign competition, while 47% disagree. The article notes that AI data centers specifically have drawn criticism for their environmental impact and high energy consumption. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently imposed a one-year moratorium on data center construction in the state, a decision that faced sharp criticism from local business leaders and former President Trump.