Poll: Concern about AI is growing among NH residents, but so is AI use
A recent poll in New Hampshire indicates growing concern among residents about the negative impacts of AI, particularly on elections and job availability. The survey also revealed significant opposition to data center development, with two-thirds of respondents opposing a data center in their town. Furthermore, a majority of residents supported a proposed halt on data center construction that the New Hampshire Legislature considered.
The latest Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center reveals increasing public concern in New Hampshire regarding the overall negative effects of artificial intelligence over the next decade. Nearly two-thirds of respondents anticipated negative impacts on the U.S., a three-point increase from a similar poll in October 2025. Despite this, AI use among New Hampshire workers has risen to 59%, up from 44% in October.
While residents expressed optimism about AI's potential benefits in medical care and workplace productivity, pessimism outweighed optimism in eight other categories, including education, the economy, and the environment. Concerns were highest regarding AI's impact on elections, with 74% predicting a negative effect, and job availability, as 72% believed AI would lead to fewer jobs.
The survey also highlighted strong public opposition to data center development, which houses AI-powering computers. Two-thirds of New Hampshire residents stated they would oppose a data center in their own town, with only about one in five supporting such a project. This sentiment cuts across political lines, with similar proportions of Democrats and Republicans favoring a pause on data center development.
Notably, 45% of residents supported a halt on data center construction, a measure considered but not agreed upon by the New Hampshire Legislature this year, compared to 34% who opposed it. Opposition to data centers was higher among younger residents, women, socialists, and those in specific regions like the North Country, Seacoast, and Connecticut Valley.