Less Popular Than Coal

Nearly fifty ballot measures across the nation to limit AI datacenter construction all appear to have passed, with voters rejecting these facilities even more than they would reject coal plants, signaling widespread public disapproval of the AI industry. The tech industry must confront this rejection beyond economic metrics and adoption rates, as the concentrated benefits of AI growth have not translated to tangible improvements for most people, while high-profile industry figures have raised public fears about existential risks and ethical concerns.