US Poll Finds Rising Concern Over AI’s Environmental Footprint

Summary

A new survey of 3,424 US adults, conducted in August by The Associated Press, NORC and the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, finds that 53 percent are extremely or very concerned about artificial intelligence’s environmental impact. That figure is up from 41 percent last year. Respondents expressed more concern about AI’s carbon footprint than about other high-emission activities such as meat production and aviation. Concern is especially high over local data centers that support AI and cloud computing: most respondents are extremely or very worried that these facilities could raise electricity prices or strain community water supplies. About two-thirds of Democrats report high concern, compared with half of independents and four in 10 Republicans, indicating that Democrats account for much of the increase while concern spans party lines. The poll comes as thousands of data centers operate across the United States and new construction accelerates to meet demand, including large facilities designed for intensive AI processing. Virginia and Texas have the most operating centers, followed by California, Ohio and New York. President Donald Trump has urged communities to welcome the facilities for their promised jobs, while residents and researchers question whether local communities receive sufficient consideration. Experts cited in the report say data centers are not the nation’s largest water users, but their impact can be modest nationally and decisive in the places where they are built.