NBC exit poll: 57% of US midterm voters say AI will hurt society, 76% oppose a local data centre
Only 24% think AI will do more to help. 23% called AI and data centres crucial to their vote, and 43% trust neither party to handle AI; the figures are early and still updating.
Why it matters
AI has been a live issue in the 2026 US midterms, mostly through fights over new data centres and their pull on power and water. NBC News's exit poll puts numbers on that mood. Most voters expect AI to do more harm than good, three in four would oppose a data centre in their own community, and neither party has won voters' trust on the subject. Voters who think AI will hurt society leaned Democratic, 62% to 36%. These are early results that NBC updates through the night, so the shares can still move.
Key facts
- 57% say AI will do more to hurt society; 24% say help; 18% neither
- 76% oppose a new data centre in their community; 24% favour
- 23% called AI and data centres crucial to their vote; 56% crucial or major
- 43% say neither party is better on AI (Democrats 29%, Republicans 27%)
- Results are early and still updating