Joe Allen, the self-proclaimed anti-tech prophet, dashes towards a delivery robot in downtown Atlanta. His flight gets delayed yet again, giving me an opportunity to follow him around and ask about his book “Dark Aeon.” I’m back in Georgia trying to figure out if people hate data centers or AI more. The vitriol against them is unprecedented; even “white Christian nationalism” accounts on X are joining the chorus.

For decades, data centers quietly streamed Netflix and stored cloud stuff. But now, with ChatGPT and the AI race, tech oligarchs argue we need to build as many as possible—fast. The government rolled back environmental regulations, and data centers began cropping up everywhere: in majority-Black neighbourhoods, at public meetings causing outrage.

People are asking questions. Is it classic NIMBYism? Or is there a deeper fear of the unknown? A Gallup poll shows 70% oppose them locally. Protests have seen attacks on council members and tech CEOs, data center moratoriums in at least a dozen states, and bans in red places like Hill County, Texas.

Washington was unprepared for this backlash, especially since Congress is full of folks so old they can barely work their phones. As the AI race heats up, we’re left wondering: are people truly against data centers or just our outdated fears manifesting?