Most Americans do not want artificial-intelligence data centres built near their homes, according to a Gallup poll that found broad public resistance to one of the fastest-growing categories of industrial infrastructure.
The survey found that 71% of respondents opposed the construction of an AI data centre in their local area, including 48% who said they were strongly opposed. Just 29% expressed support.
The poll was conducted by telephone between March 2 and 18, with a random sample of 1,000 adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Environmental concerns dominated the objections. About half of opponents cited the heavy use of resources, with 18% specifically pointing to water consumption and a further 18% to energy use. Roughly one in six raised concerns about pollution, including noise.
Around one in five opponents cited the effect on local quality of life, including increased traffic and a preference that land be used for other purposes. Gallup noted that opposition to data centres now exceeds resistance to nuclear power plants, which 53% of Americans said they would not want nearby.
The findings point to a growing political challenge for the technology industry, which is racing to build the computing capacity needed for AI even as the facilities draw scrutiny over their demands on local power grids and water supplies.