iN NUMBERS: How people in B.C. feel about the idea of AI data centres in their backyards

The idea of AI data centres might fill you with optimism about technology and job growth, or maybe pessimism about a few tech billionaires profiting off an economic boom fuelled by speculation and hype, and the concerns about the enormous amount of water needed, or maybe you don’t care.

Regardless, the AI train is rolling so Abacus Data asked British Columbians how they feel about data centres.

Here are the numbers:

• 1: Controversial developer wanted to turn Kelowna Mountain into a data centre, which spiralled into a lawsuit.
• 39: Per cent of British Columbians polled would oppose a data centre in their community no matter what.
• 16: Per cent of British Columbians polled would support a data centre in their community.
• 35: Per cent of British Columbians polled said they could support a data centre in their community depending on the details.
• 41: Per cent of British Columbians polled said building more AI data centres is a good thing.
• 36: Per cent of British Columbians polled said more AI data centres are a bad thing.
• 14: Per cent of British Columbians polled said they don’t know enough about AI data centres to have an opinion. Holding off on forming an opinion until you have information seems to be a rare thing these days.
• 31: Per cent of BCers polled said they had heard about AI data centres from their peers in the past few months.
• 34: Per cent of BCers polled said building more data centres would lead to job losses.
• 9: Per cent of BCers polled said AI data centres would create a lot of good jobs.
• 67: Per cent of British Columbians polled said they think AI data centres would increase the price of electricity.