United States faces divide over AI chatbot use and data center construction

A growing contradiction has emerged in the United States between the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and public opposition to the infrastructure required to power it. According to a Morning Consult survey, 50.3 percent of American adults used an AI chatbot in July, marking the first time usage has exceeded half the population. This level of engagement is now comparable to the popularity of platforms like TikTok or Disney+.

Despite this usage, a Gallup poll indicates that 70 percent of Americans oppose the construction of data centers within their own communities. These facilities, which power AI, face criticism due to their high consumption of energy and water, as well as their noise levels and impact on air quality.

The issue has become a significant political flashpoint ahead of the November Congressional elections. Donald Trump has expressed strong support for data center development, warning on Truth Social that communities resisting such projects risk becoming “backward and poor.” He compared the technology to a “hen that lays golden eggs,” suggesting that blocking infrastructure would be self-defeating.