Americans Prefer Nuclear Plants to AI Data Centers as Neighbors, Gallup Poll Reveals

In a surprising revelation, a new Gallup poll indicates that Americans are more comfortable living near a nuclear power plant than an AI data center. According to the survey, 71 percent of Americans oppose building AI data centers near their homes, a significantly higher percentage than the 53 percent who object to a nearby nuclear power plant. The primary concerns driving this opposition are the high water and energy consumption of AI data centers, along with pollution and the potential for rising utility costs.

These findings suggest that while nuclear power plants have long been a source of public concern, the rapid growth of AI infrastructure is raising new anxieties among the American public. The Gallup poll underscores a critical challenge facing the technology sector as it seeks to expand its data center capacity to support the growing demands of AI applications. As the United States continues to develop its AI capabilities, the industry will need to address these public concerns and find ways to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of its infrastructure.

The article Americans would rather live next to a nuclear plant than an AI data center, Gallup poll finds appeared first on The Decoder . This resistance to AI data centers comes at a time when the technology is becoming increasingly integral to daily life, driving a need for more data center capacity. However, the poll suggests that the public is not yet convinced that the benefits of AI outweigh the potential costs to their communities.

As the technology landscape continues to evolve, these findings highlight the importance of engaging with the public and addressing concerns around the infrastructure that supports emerging technologies like AI.