Two-Thirds of Americans Back AI Pause as Concerns Mount Over Regulation, Data Center Expansion

A Wall Street Journal poll of 1,500 registered voters reveals deep public anxiety about artificial intelligence's development pace and environmental footprint, with decisive majorities calling for government intervention. The survey, conducted in late September 2026 and analyzed by WSJ's Aaron Zitner, found that 63 percent of Americans support a pause on AI advances—a sentiment reflecting widespread skepticism about the industry's self-regulatory capacity. Sixty-four percent say AI is developing too fast, while 57 percent demand immediate government regulation to establish strict rules.