Updated

New polling from The New York Times and Siena University found that 61% of likely voters oppose construction of AI data centers, with only 14% strongly supporting them—reflecting a broader public and political backlash against the AI infrastructure boom. The opposition has spread across party lines and geographic regions, driven by concerns over electricity costs, water use, and local environmental impact. In a new interview, former Vice President Al Gore offered a comparatively calm take on the backlash, saying he is less concerned about data center emissions than about warnings coming from within the AI industry itself regarding where the technology could be headed. His comments add a prominent environmental voice to the debate, suggesting some climate advocates see AI's broader societal risks as a bigger concern than its energy footprint.