The $40 billion data center gamble

A proposed data center complex in Utah, backed by Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary, has sparked a firestorm of controversy over water use, air quality, tax subsidies, and unprecedented scale.

According to the Deseret News, the project has been met with a wave of public pushback due to a process that has limited resident participation and raised numerous questions.

The Deseret News, in partnership with the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, conducted a statewide poll that revealed a marked disconnect when it comes to residents' feeelings about artificial intelligence versus the data complexes that underpin the fast-advancing AI technology sector.

A divided state on AI

The poll found that 38% of respondents felt somewhat or very positive about AI, while 37% said their feelings were somewhat or very negative, and 25% reported being neutral.

Demographic characteristics revealed some telling dynamics about who is thinking what when it comes to artificial intelligence.

Among self-identified Republicans, 50% said they felt somewhat or very positive about AI, compared to just 23% of self-identified Democrats.

Generational divides were also stark, with Gen Zers being the most enthusiastic about AI, at 59%, while Baby boomers had the most pessimistic views, with only 28% seeing the new technology as somewhat or very positive.

Income and AI sentiment

The poll also found that over half (51%) of those who reported earning over $100,000 a year said they were somewhat or very positive about AI, as did 38% of those in the $50 ,000-$100,000 annual salary range.

Just 21% of those who earn less than $50,000 each year said they had positive feelings toward AI.

Concerns and excitement about AI

Pollsters also explored which functions represented the most concerning and most exciting potential uses of AI technology .

Among respondents who said they had some level of negative feelings about AI, the top three most concerning areas were employment, source of news, and K-12 education, identified by 65%, 57%, and 52%, respectively.

For those who reported positive feelings about AI, medical research, the economy, and arts/entertainment rated as the areas garnering the most AI-related excitement, totaling 54%, 40%, and 40%, respectively.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The Deseret News poll did not reveal the identity of the unnamed buyer behind the proposed data center complex.

The lack of transparency has raised concerns among residents and environmental groups, who are calling for more information about the project's backers and their motivations.