The public sours on AI, data centers as Anthropic, OpenAI look to IPO
Artificial intelligence is losing the popularity contest in the United States, and that’s bad news for some of Big Tech’s power players.
This trend has implications for highly valued companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are on track to go public. It also threatens Amazon, Google, Microsoft And MetaSo-called hyperscalers plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to compete for data centers that will power artificial intelligence.
The last signal of negative sentiment was extreme.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had his San Francisco home targeted last week; where prosecutors said a man threw a lit Molotov cocktail at a garage door. The San Francisco District Attorney said the crime was motivated by hatred of artificial intelligence technology.
Suspect Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, of Texas, faces charges including attempted murder. He is also accused of threatening to burn down OpenAI’s headquarters.
Altman responded to the attack over the weekend, acknowledging a period of “great concern about AI” and calling for a reduction in rhetoric and tactics.
“I empathize with anti-technology sentiments and see clearly that technology is not always good for everyone,” Altman wrote. “But overall, I believe that technological progress can make the future incredibly good for your family and mine.”
AI trust
Altman recently made several policies public remedies Trying to head off broader economic concerns, ranging from a public wealth fund to a four-day workweek to changes in payroll taxes in favor of taxation automation.
However, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is among those who voiced the risks. large scale disruption from AI.
The conversation is now moving from niche tech circles to the general public.
Artificial intelligence is already expected to become a central campaign issue during the midterm elections, and polling data now shows Americans feeling more pessimistic about the technology.
A March NBC News poll found that 57% of registered voters believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits, and a Quinnipiac University poll found that 55% expected AI would do more harm than good in their daily lives.
These results were echoed in the Pew survey, which found that a majority of Americans are more concerned than excited about the growing use of artificial intelligence.
Data center drag
But data centers’ energy demands have already become the focus of state and local campaigns, resulting in widespread backlash.
a report Data Center Monitoring Found at least $156 billion worth of data center projects in 2025 blocked or delayed amid local opposition and lawsuits.
Maine on Wednesday passed a bill to create the first statewide data center ban, and the legislation now heads to the governor’s desk for signature. Lester, Missouri’s St. Voters in suburban St. Louis voted for several city council members on support for a proposed data center.
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Finally, the risk may also be reflected in upcoming public offerings.
OpenAI’s valuation may depend specifically on its data center structure, which it identifies as a strategic advantage. Political sentiment can also put pressure on potential shareholders.
The startup is among the companies that plan to allocate a portion of its IPO to individual investors. CFO Sarah Friar.
“Everybody wants to own a piece of a rocket company,” Friar said, referring to SpaceX and its plans to retain nearly 30% of its retail share. “I hope everyone wants to own a piece of ChatGPT. It helps when you’re a consumer brand.”
