If AI were a candidate for political office, it would be losing in a landslide.

Why it matters: The AI hype cycle would have you believe the technology is inevitable. But AI backlash is growing, as people worry it will steal their jobs, jack up electricity rates and further enrich the wealthy, all while hurting the environment.

Case in point: Seattle officials are considering a one-year ban on new data centers — key infrastructure needed for the AI boom — amid concerns about how much power the centers could consume.

• The debate comes as local companies such as Amazon and Microsoft are increasingly investing in AI.

Zoom out: In Florida, a commencement address went viral this month after the speaker said "artificial intelligence is the next Industrial Revolution," sparking a chorus of boos from the crowd.

• Only 18% of young people ages 14 to 29 say they feel hopeful about AI, according to a recent Gallup survey.

The disdain spans generations and political parties. An Economist/YouGov poll released this week showed over 70% of Americans think AI is advancing too quickly, with 68% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats saying it's moving too fast.

• Other YouGov polling shows negative views of AI rising from 34% three years ago to just over 50% now.
• "I'm a resistor, " wrote Axios Seattle reader Julia R. in response to a question we posed last month about AI sentiments. "Is hater a category? That is me."

Between the lines: AI executives aren't doing much to quell the backlash, which is already showing signs of slowing the industry. Some of them appear unfazed — or unaware.

What they're saying: While the tech is here to stay, what's "not inevitable is that these technologies will be embedded in every aspect of our lives, become indispensable, or replace humans," Avriel Epps of the University of California, Riverside, told Axios.

• "Nothing in the future is inevitable and no single person, company, or group gets to decide what will happen in the future."

Threat level: Negative AI sentiment could become a financial liability for AI labs if it continues to curb access to their most valuable resource: compute power.

• A record number of data centers were canceled in the first quarter of 2026 amid resistance from communities, per Heatmap Pro data.
• "Public pushback is emerging as a binding constraint," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote.

Go deeper

I stopped by Saigon Drip cafe in Pioneer Square the other day and picked up this beautiful grilled pork bánh mì.

• It got me thinking about all the great banh mi offerings in the city, and how hard it is to pick a favorite.

This is where you come in. We want to find Seattle's best bánh mì, and need your help.

📤 Reply or email us with your favorite bánh mì spot.

• We'll use your suggestions to create a bracket, then let you vote on where to find the best version of this classic Vietnamese sandwich.

May the best bánh mì win!

🏠 Seattle-area renters who buy a home now typically pay more than double their previous housing costs, one of the biggest rent-to-own affordability gaps in the country. (Seattle Times)

🪓 Meta began laying off 8,000 employees — about 10% of its workforce — this week as the company pours billions into AI, though it's unclear how many Seattle-area workers are affected. (MyNorthwest)

🐋 Twenty-one gray whales have washed up on Washington shores this year, a concerningly high number that researchers say is part of an ongoing die-off tied largely to starvation and malnourishment. (FOX 13)

⚡️ Clean energy dealmaking is on pace for its "biggest year ever," with industry leaders gathering in Seattle next week amid rising AI power demand. (Axios)

🎭 Seattle Opera hosted what's believed to be the world's first official "Furry Night at the Opera" last weekend for fans who dress as anthropomorphic animal characters. (The Stranger)

If there's one thing Seattle does well besides coffee and complaining about the weather, it's parks.

The latest: The city once again ranked among the nation's best park systems, landing at No. 8 in the Trust for Public Land's new 2026 ParkScore index.

• It's the sixth year Seattle has placed in the top 10.

Zoom in: Seattle scored high for park access, with 99% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, far above the national average of 76%.

• The city also earned top marks for park investment, spending about $440 per resident on parks and recreation compared to the national average of $154.

Yes, but: Seattle's ranking took a hit on park size and amenities, such as off-leash dog parks, restrooms, playgrounds and sports areas.

• Washington, D.C., again claimed the top spot for best big-city park system in the country, followed by Irvine, California, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Tell a friend

One of the most memorable moments from my family's recent holiday to Iceland was watching the Strokkur Geyser erupt.

• It's one of three main attractions on the Golden Circle, alongside the Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park — where visitors can stand at the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

We also traveled to England, where my mother and I reunited with my sister who's lived there for 10 years.

• We all choked up when mom suggested it might be the last time we'd all be together.