AI Backlash: Public Skepticism Mounts as Anthropic, OpenAI Eye IPOs

Artificial intelligence, once the darling of the tech world and a projected engine of economic growth, appears to be facing a significant dip in public favor across the United States. This shifting sentiment carries profound implications for Big Tech’s most ambitious players, particularly those poised for initial public offerings and the colossal infrastructure investments fueling the AI revolution.

Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, both on a trajectory towards public market debuts, find their valuations potentially scrutinized in this new landscape. Furthermore, the immense capital expenditures planned by giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta—collectively trillions of dollars earmarked for data center expansion to power AI advancements—could face headwinds if public apprehension escalates.

The gravity of this sentiment shift was starkly underscored by a recent alarming incident targeting OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at his San Francisco residence. Authorities allege that an individual hurled a Molotov cocktail at his driveway gate, a crime reportedly motivated by animosity towards AI technology. The suspect, Daniel Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old from Texas, faces serious charges, including attempted murder and threats against OpenAI’s headquarters.

Altman, in his response to the attack, acknowledged the prevailing “great anxiety about AI” and appealed for a de-escalation of divisive rhetoric. He expressed empathy for anti-technology sentiments, recognizing that technological progress is not universally beneficial. However, he maintained an optimistic outlook, asserting that technological advancement ultimately holds the potential to create an “unbelievably good” future for all.

In an effort to preemptively address broader economic anxieties, Sam Altman has put forth several policy proposals. These range from the establishment of a public wealth fund and the implementation of a four-day workweek to restructuring payroll taxes to incentivize automation over human labor. These initiatives reflect a proactive approach to mitigating the disruptive potential of AI and fostering a more equitable distribution of its benefits.

Meanwhile, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has been an outspoken advocate for acknowledging the risks associated with large-scale technological disruption driven by AI. His perspective highlights the critical need for careful consideration of AI’s societal impact.

The conversation surrounding AI’s implications is rapidly moving beyond specialized tech communities and into the mainstream public discourse. AI is increasingly anticipated to become a pivotal issue in upcoming political campaigns, with recent polling data indicating a growing sense of pessimism among Americans regarding the technology.

A March NBC News survey revealed that a majority of registered voters (57%) believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits. Similarly, a Quinnipiac University poll found that 55% anticipate AI will generate more harm than good in their daily lives. These findings are consistent with a Pew Research Center poll, which indicated that a significant portion of Americans are more apprehensive than enthusiastic about the increasing adoption of AI.

The physical infrastructure underpinning AI’s rapid advancement—data centers and high-performance servers—is the very engine driving these intelligent systems. The leading technology firms have committed an estimated $700 billion this year to expand their data center footprint across the United States, recognizing that increased compute capacity directly translates to more sophisticated AI models.

However, the substantial energy demands of these data centers have become a focal point for state and local governance, sparking significant public opposition. A recent report from Data Center Watch highlighted that in 2025, a staggering $156 billion in planned data center projects faced blockages or delays due to local resistance and ongoing litigation. This trend suggests a growing tension between the imperative for AI infrastructure development and the concerns of communities regarding environmental impact and resource consumption.

Illustrating this growing pushback, Maine recently enacted legislation to establish the nation’s first statewide ban on new data center construction, a bill now awaiting gubernatorial approval. In Lester, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, voters ousted several city council members in response to their support for a proposed data center development, signaling a potent local backlash against such projects.

This evolving public and political sentiment surrounding AI could have a tangible impact on upcoming initial public offerings. For companies like OpenAI, whose strategic advantage is closely tied to its data center infrastructure, a challenging environment for expansion could create significant hurdles. Furthermore, a dip in overall public confidence could influence investor appetite, potentially affecting valuations and the reception of new stock offerings.

OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, has previously indicated plans to allocate a portion of the company’s IPO to individual investors, drawing parallels to SpaceX’s strategy of reserving shares for retail participants. Friar expressed optimism about owning a piece of “ChatGPT,” envisioning its broad consumer appeal as a driver for investor interest, akin to the widespread desire to invest in groundbreaking companies like SpaceX.