Silicon Valley's technology leaders have faced increasing scrutiny as public sentiment towards technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), shifts negatively. A report from the Pew Research Center indicates that more than half of Americans are more concerned than excited about the growing use of AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021. This sentiment coincides with the rise of AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, which are valued at nearly $1 trillion and are preparing for potential IPOs.
Sarah Myers West, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, expressed concerns about the economic impact of AI, stating, "If this technology takes off in the way that you see the CEOs of AI Labs talking about, we're facing a significant impact to our economy, to people's jobs, to their sense of agency." A survey by CNBC Generation Lab found that over 75% of respondents aged 18 to 34 do not trust Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to act responsibly, with similar distrust directed towards OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The backlash against the tech sector is compounded by the public's negative perception of social media, with a majority of voters believing it has a detrimental effect on society. This growing discontent is reflected in local opposition to AI data centers, which are seen as a physical manifestation of the public's anger towards AI. A report from Data Center Watch noted that approximately $130 billion worth of data center projects were blocked or delayed in the first quarter of this year due to local opposition.
Emily Wurth, organizing director for Food and Water Watch, highlighted various concerns related to data centers, including water use, higher utility bills, emissions, and noise pollution. She noted that community opposition has been significant, with many residents attending meetings to voice their concerns.
In response to these issues, Amazon engineers have called for greater regulation of AI data centers, citing concerns over energy use. However, not all sentiment is negative; some unions support data centers for the job opportunities they create during construction and operation.
The debate over data centers has become a significant issue in the upcoming midterm elections, with candidates from both parties addressing the concerns raised by constituents.