US data centers are now fueling a high-stakes political clash
Millions are pouring into a battle over AI's physical footprint.
Image by Cybernews.
- Build American AI is launching a multimillion-dollar campaign in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
- The group says data centers can create jobs and help the US lead in AI.
- Local opposition has grown over electricity costs, grid reliability, water use, and opaque approval processes.
- $50 million in funding will support ads, outreach, research, media work, and political backing for aligned candidates.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
As the midterms in November are approaching, a heavily backed pro-AI non-profit is launching a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to counter growing public opposition against the development of data centers.
According to multiple reports, Build American AI, a non-profit affiliated with the pro-AI political organization “Leading the Future,” begins its campaign in Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin, where data centers have become a top political issue.
The campaign aims to convince both the public and politicians that AI infrastructure is necessary for US leadership in AI and that data centers can create jobs and foster economic growth, benefiting local communities. Meanwhile, as reported by Cybernews, local communities across the country oppose these developments due to electricity costs, grid reliability and power outages, as well as water consumption.
Also, the process of granting investors licenses and land to develop these projects is sometimes criticized for a lack of transparency, as they fail to involve local communities in discussions about these projects.
Opposition to local data centers rose from 49% in March to 61% in July, a recently published survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania showed. According to the results, majorities of Democrats (69%), Republicans (54%) and independents (53%) oppose new local data centers, while opposition is highest among young adults under 30 (70%) and declines to 57% among those 65 and older. However, fewer respondents (39%) expect AI’s impact on the United States to be negative over the next decade, while even fewer, 18%, expect it to be positive.
Now, according to Axios, Build American AI has about $50 million in cash on hand to change these views in its favor by spending the money on advertising, grassroots engagement, research, earned media and public education. Also, the campaign is expected to expand as state legislatures prepare bills for 2027 sessions. What's more, the non-profit is also launching a new super PAC, Building the Future, to support candidates aligned with its agenda and oppose those who aren't.
According to Bloomberg, venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman are among the funders of Leading the Future.
