A new AP/NORC poll finds that 47% of American adults believe artificial intelligence will do more to hurt the environment than help it over the next decade. Only 15% think AI will help, while 19% see no difference and 18% are unsure. The poll, conducted in July with 3,424 respondents, shows a sharp rise in pessimism from last year, when 33% expected AI to do more harm. The concern aligns with real-world emissions trends. Microsoft reported a 25% jump in carbon emissions in its latest annual report, largely tied to data center expansion. As AI infrastructure grows, so does electricity demand, raising questions about whether the grid can keep up without increasing fossil fuel use. The poll comes amid midterm election discussions on data centers and federal regulations. For policymakers and energy planners, the numbers signal that public trust is slipping. The challenge is not just managing AI's footprint but making the case that renewable energy and grid upgrades can handle the load. Without visible progress on clean power procurement, the skepticism seen in this poll is likely to persist.
