Today in DTN: A new NBC News/Decision Desk Poll reveals dynamic nature of citizens’ feelings about data centers/AI.
An NBC News Decision Desk poll conducted August 20 to September 1 provides some much-needed nuance about how people feel about technology, AI, and data centers.
The poll began by asking how much participants trusted nine different groups and institutions. Respondents could answer “A Great Deal,” “Quite a Lot,” “Some,” “Very Little,” “None,” or “Not Familiar Enough to Say.” Of the nine options, only one — Social Media Companies — resulted in 50 percent or more of respondents answer “Very Little” or “None.” Companies developing AI had 49 percent respond negatively.
While people have strongly negative feelings about these technology groups, they display more mixed feelings about the tolls they are developing.
This is significant because while respondents don’t trust AI development companies, they are increasingly leaning on AI tools.
Between June 2025 and September 2026, the percentage of respondents admitting to using ChatGPT or a similar tool “Very Often” or “Sometimes” has risen eight percentage points. Those admitting to using them “Rarely” or “Never” over the same period fell eight points.
In short, despite the trust in the companies, people are turning to them. But for what purpose? Mainly to research topics people are interested in.
But respondents also admit to having little confidence that AI is going to make schools, or news, or democracy better. The only areas they think it will improve matters? Science and health care.
What should capture poll readers, however, is that neither major political party is trusted to make good decisions about AI. Just 20 percent trust Democrats, 16 percent trust Republicans, and 5 percent trust both parties equally. Forty-four percent trust neither.
Bottom line: While a number of polls have shown unified distaste for AI and data centers in recent months, this polls show that while people remain skeptical, they are slowly adopting AI and finding places they believe it could be useful.
The poll of 7,105 adults 18 and over has a +/- 3.3% margin of error. It was conducted using SurveyMonkey.
