AXIOS (Megan Morrone) - Data centers become the face of AI backlash
Only a small fraction of data center opponents actually live near one, according to new polling by a consulting firm that counsels leading AI labs and tech startups. Why it matters: The findings by Milltown Partners, shared first with Axios, highlight how data centers have become a stand-in for broader anger at an AI future many Americans don't want but fear they'll have to pay for. By the numbers: The public is still divided on data centers, with direct opposition not yet a majority view. But nearly half of respondents support a temporary construction ban, according to Milltown's findings. - 38% of respondents said they would support a data center being built near their home, while 34% would oppose it. - Meanwhile, 49% say they…