Analysis: A powerful new coalition of AI skeptics is coalescing right in Trump's blind spot
A new coalition of evangelicals, labor unions, and anti-AI-data-center activists is emerging, concerned about rapid technological change and its economic impact. This poses a political challenge for figures like former President Trump, who has aligned with data center developers despite public fears about energy bills. New York state has already implemented a moratorium on data center construction amid widespread opposition.
An emerging political coalition comprising religious leaders, labor unions, and local activists is expressing significant concerns about artificial intelligence and its potential for broad economic upheaval. This groundswell of worry presents a political challenge, particularly for figures like former President Donald Trump.
Trump recently highlighted commitments from data center developers and utilities to maintain stable electricity prices, aiming to address public fears about rising energy costs due to increased data center construction. Despite this, he encouraged assembled governors and local officials to embrace data center development, urging them not to "fight it" and to capitalize on the economic opportunities, aligning himself with companies such as OpenAI and Oracle.
However, the article points out a disconnect between Trump's emphasis on wealth creation and the anxieties of everyday Americans regarding job instability and the concentration of wealth in the tech sector. This sentiment is echoed by influential figures like Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, who warns against the potential harms of AI, and Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, who advocates for prioritizing working people over algorithms. Sean O'Brien of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters also stressed the need for labor to have a voice in these developments.
Adding to the political unrest is widespread opposition to data centers across the country. New York state has already enacted a moratorium on data center construction under Governor Kathy Hochul. Polling data from the Yale Program on Climate Communication indicates significant opposition to local data center development across the political spectrum, with majorities of conservative Republicans, liberal Democrats, and registered voters expressing disapproval. The article concludes that politicians who heed this growing coalition's call for caution on AI and data center development will find strong support.