Tech responds to America's anti-AI backlash by blaming China. Good luck with that.

Some Americans are pushing back against data centers. Some tech leaders think anti-AI sentiment is the result of a "psyop".

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Everyone* hates data centers now.How did that happen?There are lots of theories: People are worried about the environment. Or electric bills. Or their jobs. Or imperious Big Tech billionaires ordering them around. All of the above.Also: It's China's fault.That last one doesn't come up in polling. But it's quite popular on certain corners of the pro-AI internet.The theory spelled out: China wants Americans to turn against AI data centers, so that America will fall behind China in the AI race. So it is using the internet to brainwash Americans to hate data centers. A psyop, per prominent VC Garry Tan:Is that possible?Maaaaaaaybe: In June, OpenAI said it had evidence some China-linked accounts were trying to use the platform to generate anti-AI content they could distribute on social media, like this:

OpenAI says users linked to China created these anti-AI messages using ChatGPT.

But that same report said it didn't have any evidence that those efforts had shifted public opinion.