Source: Fortune
Summary
A recent analysis by the Brookings Institution found that AI anxiety is concentrated in Democratic-leaning jurisdictions, with 62 of the 100 most AI-exposed counties voting Democrat in 2024. The growing backlash against AI is likely to play a significant role in the midterms, with polling suggesting a growing share of Americans have negative feelings towards AI. Some Democrats have seized on the issue, calling for moratoriums on data center development and criticizing the Trump administration’s AI approach.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. AI anxiety is real, and it’s concentrated in blue strongholds like Manhattan, the Bay Area, and Seattle’s King County. Democrats have seized on the issue, but given that the bulk of AI anxiety is concentrated in places that already voted blue, they also stand to lose the most should AI backlash turn local. The “techlash” against AI is spreading, driven by workers’ fears of the technology’s potential to disrupt their jobs and upend their livelihoods. Democrats are walking a tightrope, trying to capitalize on the AI backlash while avoiding being seen as anti-tech. The geography of AI exposure could be a double-edged sword for Democrats, who risk losing trust among AI-exposed Americans if their message doesn’t land.
Author: Evan Null
