A survey conducted by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that public sentiment regarding the environmental consequences of artificial intelligence leans toward skepticism. According to the findings released Wednesday, 47 percent of American adults surveyed anticipate that AI will do more to harm the environment than to help it in the coming ten years.

While the report highlights this plurality of concern, it does not provide a breakdown of the specific environmental risks respondents are worried about, nor does it detail the arguments of those who believe AI could be a net positive for the planet. The data reflects a growing public discourse surrounding the energy consumption and resource demands of large-scale computing infrastructure, which often powers AI models. As tech companies continue to invest heavily in data centers, the environmental footprint of these facilities has become a focal point for both policymakers and the general public. This poll serves as a snapshot of current public opinion, though it remains unclear how much of this sentiment is driven by specific knowledge of AI’s energy usage versus general apprehension toward new, rapidly evolving technologies.