Gallup Poll: Americans Would Rather Live Near a Nuclear Power Plant Than an AI Data Center

Would you rather have your home be at risk for a Chernobyl-style catastrophe? Or would you rather have your home near Grok?

That question was effectively at the heart of a new Gallup Poll — and it appears Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of the former.

In a pair of March polls, Gallup found that a sizable 53 percent of Americans oppose bringing a nuclear energy plant into their locality. Conversely, a whopping 71 percent of those polled opposed the construction of artificial intelligence data centers in their areas.

Of note, this is, quite literally, a first for Gallup. It had never asked about AI data centers before, but given its prominent place in the zeitgeist, it makes sense.

It also suggests that AI is facing a steep PR battle, which becomes much clearer once you dig into the Gallup numbers.

78% of U.S. adults who worry about the