Big Tech's Controversial Tactics Fuel Growing US Voter Anger Beyond Midterms

While some commentators suggested that the recent US midterm election backlash against the Republican Party was partly fueled by resistance to Big Tech and artificial intelligence, particularly concerning data centers, this sentiment is unlikely to dissipate with the Democratic Party's victory. The anger directed at Big Tech may have only just begun, extending beyond partisan politics and poised to escalate towards the 2028 US presidential election. Even without Donald Trump on the ballot, his influence on technology executives is expected to persist.

Despite criticisms of his aggressive campaign style, adversarial approach to the press, and disregard for facts, Mr. Trump's return to the White House in 2024 demonstrated his ability to defy expectations. It appears that technology executives have adopted similar controversial tactics, whether overtly or subtly. For years, despite mounting public anger over the proliferation of data centers in communities, executives and proponents of unregulated AI have largely ignored concerns about noise, environmental impact, and water consumption. In some cases, companies and developers have proceeded with data center construction despite known opposition, utilizing non-disclosure agreements to circumvent community awareness and prevent pushback.

This approach mirrors Mr. Trump's governance style, characterized by a focus on sheer willpower, catchy slogans, and aggressive marketing to overcome opposition. Leading up to the midterms, even as public sentiment against data centers and concerns about AI grew, Mr. Trump dismissed the commotion as a hoax, even suggesting foreign interference. While foreign entities do utilize social media to stir dissent, domestic concerns about AI and data centers are far more significant.

Despite numerous community meetings and discussions across the US, tech executives have maintained that the public's anger is part of a conspiracy. Entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, known for his assertive demeanor on 'Shark Tank,' echoed this sentiment, attributing opposition to his proposed 40,000-acre data center in Utah to Chinese government efforts to sow division. Instead of addressing resident concerns, Mr. O’Leary persisted with the 'hoax' narrative, leading to anger in Utah’s Box Elder County and subsequent defamation lawsuits from community groups. Even Fox News, typically not aligned with progressive activism, distanced itself from Mr. O’Leary's unsubstantiated claims, issuing an apology for airing them and noting his admission of having 'no evidence' to support his accusations against the Alliance for a Better Utah, Josh Kanter, or Taylor Knuth.

Tech executives' pervasive social media presence, promoting the benefits of the AI boom, often appears unvetted by public relations consultants. Some executives seem to mistakenly believe that the public's appreciation for President Trump's authenticity will translate to their own. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in a recent interview, addressed the AI-induced RAM shortage and rising consumer device prices, suggesting that personal computers, smartphones, and laptops inefficiently utilize the world's limited DRAM supply. This perspective drew criticism from Elon Musk, a rival in the Big Tech sphere. Coincidentally, shortly after Mr. Trump advocated for rebranding AI as 'super intelligence,' OpenAI appears to be rebranding its data centers, aligning with a directive for government agencies and Big Tech to use 'SI' instead of 'AI.'

Historically, Democrats have favored regulation. With their control of the Senate and House of Representatives, they are likely to increase accountability for Big Tech. However, there is little indication that top executives will engage in genuine self-reflection. As long as they continue to emulate Mr. Trump's tactics, the electorate's anger will likely simmer, setting the stage for future presidential contests where technology-related issues will remain prominent.