Utah Poll Shows Divided Views on AI While Majority Oppose O'Leary Data Center

A statewide poll by the Deseret News and the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute reveals that feelings about artificial intelligence are nearly a dead heat: 38% feel somewhat or very positive, 37% feel somewhat or very negative, and 25% are neutral. Meanwhile, a third of working Utahns say they already use AI to complete job tasks. Age, income, and party affiliation all shape these attitudes.

Fifty‑three percent of respondents oppose the proposed data center project that O’Leary hopes to build on a 40,000‑acre site in western Box Elder County. The facility would rank among the world’s largest and could consume more than twice the electricity used by the entire state. On AI sentiment, half of Republican respondents view the technology positively, while less than a quarter of Democrats share that view.

The data suggest Utahns distinguish between the abstract promise of AI and the concrete impacts of the infrastructure needed to support it. While many see potential benefits in areas like medical research and the economy, worries about water use, air quality, and tax subsidies drive opposition to the data center plan. Policymakers and developers will need to address these localized concerns if they hope to move forward with large‑scale projects.