Americans largely accept that artificial intelligence is here to stay, but many are uneasy about the local costs of the infrastructure needed to support it. A new study from Reach3 Insights found that 72 percent of Americans living in communities with existing or proposed data center developments say reducing pressure on local energy, water and infrastructure is more important than gaining access to faster, more advanced AI-powered digital services.
“Questions about AI infrastructure involve more than whether people support or oppose local data centers,” said Leigh Admirand, executive vice president at Reach3 Insights. “We designed this study to let people explain their views in their own words through conversational follow-up questions and video responses, alongside structured survey questions. That approach provided a deeper understanding of how people think about the tradeoffs between AI, local resources and community impacts.”
The findings suggest Americans distinguish between AI technology and the physical infrastructure that powers it. While 90 percent say AI is here to stay, 81 percent say it helps them complete tasks more quickly and 59 percent view the technology positively, enthusiasm wanes when the discussion shifts to data centers.
Although 59 percent agree data centers are necessary to support AI and other digital services, respondents voiced concerns about the strain they place on local communities. Seven in 10 worry increased electricity demand could drive up utility bills, 69 percent are concerned about pressure on local water resources, and 53 percent cite noise as an issue. Nearly nine in 10 believe companies should provide greater benefits to communities that host data centers.
The study also found that familiarity with AI influences attitudes toward new developments. AI users are far more likely than nonusers to support local data center projects (43 percent versus 12 percent) and believe AI will have a positive impact on society (58 percent versus 6 percent). Support also varies by generation. Millennials ages 25-44 report the highest levels of AI adoption and are the most supportive of local data center development, while Gen Z adults ages 18-24 report lower AI usage and rank among the least supportive of new facilities.
The research suggests many Americans understand the connection between AI and data centers but are less aware of the broader role the facilities play in everyday digital life. While 71 percent recognize AI relies on data centers, fewer associate them with cloud storage (49 percent), social media (41 percent), video streaming (40 percent) or messaging services (29 percent).
The study surveyed U.S. adults living in ZIP codes with existing, proposed or anticipated hyperscale or AI data center developments. Participants completed an eight-minute conversational survey on the Rival Technologies platform, combining structured questions with AI-powered Smart Probing and text- and video-based open-ended responses.
