Issue: AI

What are the real climate and environmental implications of AI, and how can climate organizations think about responsible use?

A survey of Americans in order to understand voters’ feelings toward the rise of data centers in the US and in their communities, fueled by the AI boom.
Voters are broadly aware of AI data centers at the national level, but they tend to be less aware of data centers being built in their own communities. While voters expect data centers to be built regardless of community opposition, they are grappling with concerns over how these facilities are built and what impact they will have on costs, pollution, and quality of life. This research suggests that how these data centers are powered plays a key role in how they are perceived, with the usage of renewable energy dramatically increasing support.