Silicon Valley’s AI push meets democratic backlash, poll finds
A wave of local opposition to AI datacenters is reshaping the ambitions of Silicon Valley’s technologists. A survey by Marquette University Law School found that 73% of Americans think the costs of datacenters outweigh the benefits, while 70% say AI is bad for society. Public concern has risen sharply from 37% in 2021, according to Pew Research Center, with 52% now more worried than excited and…
Key points
- 73% of Americans say datacenter costs outweigh benefits, per Marquette University Law School survey
- 70% of Americans view AI as harmful to society, Pew data shows concern rising since 2021
- EPA plans to remove public‑input rule for datacenter air‑pollution permits, limiting local oversight
The backlash is not only NIMBY; it reflects broader distrust of democratic institutions that have allowed a handful of billionaire founders to pursue a “grand AI project” with little public input. Critics such as political scientist Henry Farrell and AI ethicist Rumman Chowdhury argue the tech elite use narratives of unstoppable AI to dodge responsibility. Meanwhile, the EPA is reportedly planning to drop a rule that requires public comment on air‑pollution permits for datacenters, further limiting local oversight.
Even bipartisan political consensus on keeping U.S. AI capabilities ahead of China may not quell voter resistance, raising questions about how a technology‑driven future can coexist with democratic governance.
Democracy blindsides Silicon Valley’s power players looking to transform the world with AI
The Guardian AI · 27 September 2026
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This text was published by The Guardian AI and written by Eduardo Porter. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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