AI skepticism gains momentum among religious, labor, and local groups

A new coalition of religious leaders, labor unions, and local activists is growing more vocal about the risks they see in artificial intelligence and the expansion of data centers. The article says this trend could create political pressure for President Donald Trump and other Republicans as the issue becomes more visible ahead of future elections. The piece highlights concerns about higher electricity bills, job instability, and the concentration of wealth around major technology companies. It also notes that Trump has generally supported data center development, even as some voters worry about the impact on communities and infrastructure. The article points to comments from evangelical and labor leaders, including National Association of Evangelicals president Walter Kim and AFLCIO president Liz Shuler, who both warned that AI should be developed with stronger guardrails and greater attention to workers and human decisionmaking. It also cites polling that found broad opposition to local data center construction across party lines.