The AI Efficiency Survey

The AI Efficiency Survey

BACK TO RESOURCES

Blog

The AI Efficiency Survey

by SambaNova

--> March 1, 2026

SambaNova commissioned a survey in December 2025 that polled over 2,500 adults across the US and the UK, exploring how people feel about AI’s impact on energy use, electricity costs, and national control of AI infrastructure.

Key Findings Include:

There is great concern about AI’s energy appetite; its potential to drive up bills is now firmly in consciousness, with 75% of respondents fearing AI data centers could lead to higher household energy bills in their area.

People are becoming pro‑efficiency, with 83% believing AI companies should prioritize energy efficiency, even if it slows down technological development.

There is a widespread perception that AI will strain national energy grids, with 71% agreeing that AI data centers will strain their country’s power grid.

FULL KEY FINDINGS

AI is mainstream

90% of respondents are at least somewhat familiar with AI services such as chatbots, image generators, or AI assistants.

41% say they are “very familiar – I use them regularly,” and a further 49% “use them occasionally.”

Only 0.3% say they are “not familiar at all” with AI services.

Interpretation: AI is no longer niche. Any public debate about AI’s energy use or regulation is about a technology people already know and use.

Consumers are already aware of AI’s energy appetite

75% were aware before the survey that AI data centers use large amounts of electricity (47% “very aware,” 28% “somewhat aware”).

Only 13% say they were “not aware at all” of this issue.

Interpretation: Public awareness of AI’s energy demand is already high; this is not a niche or expert-only concern.

Concern about energy demand, prices, and grid strain

76% are concerned that AI data centers will drive up electricity demand and prices (“somewhat” or “very” concerned).

75% are concerned that AI data centers could increase household energy bills in their area.

71% agree that “AI data centers will strain the electricity grid in my country.”

Interpretation: The public now sees AI as a factor in national energy security and household costs.

Consumers oppose ‘AI at any cost’

If new AI data centers were expected to increase household electricity bills, 64% say they would oppose further AI expansion; only 7% would support it.

74% support limits or temporary pauses on high‑emissions “dirty AI" data centers until cleaner power is available.

81% agree with the statement: “I don’t want technology companies to roll out more AI services if doing so increases my household energy bills.”

Interpretation: People do not oppose AI itself, but they strongly oppose business‑as‑usual if it drives up bills and emissions.

Who should pay for AI‑driven grid upgrades?

80% say technology companies should pay for upgrades to the electricity grid needed to support new AI data centers.

12% say governments should pay; just 1% say consumers/households.

7% say the cost should be shared equally.

Interpretation: There is a strong cross‑class consensus that big tech – not bill‑payers – should shoulder the cost of AI infrastructure.

Strong demand for transparency and ‘energy labels’

85% support requiring AI services to show “energy labels” revealing how much electricity they use, similar to nutrition labels on food.

81% say those labels would influence which services they choose (31% “a lot,” 50% “somewhat”).

Interpretation: There is a powerful mandate for simple, accessible disclosure of AI energy use that would directly shape consumer behavior.

Pro‑efficiency, pro‑renewables, not anti‑AI

83% say AI companies should prioritize making AI more energy‑efficient, even if that slows down how fast new AI features are released.

82% support requiring large AI companies to use mostly or entirely renewable energy to power their services.

Interpretation: The public wants AI to move forward, but they expect the next phase of growth to be built on efficiency and clean power.

Strong support for sovereign, locally governed AI

91% say it is important that their country has its own AI systems, rather than relying mostly on foreign companies; 67% call this very or extremely important.

66% would feel more comfortable using AI services if they knew those services were hosted and governed within their own country or region; only 3% would feel less comfortable.

Interpretation: Sovereign AI is not just a policy slogan; it is a mainstream consumer expectation.

Consumers want AI investment – done responsibly

73% believe their government is investing about the right amount or more than enough in AI to keep their country competitive.

27% say their government is investing too little or far too little.

Interesting regional difference: 77% in the US vs 68% in the UK.

Interpretation: People broadly support continued AI investment by governments, but want that investment aligned with efficiency, transparency, and national control.

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES

Comparing UK to US findings:

Concern that AI data centers will drive up electricity demand and prices: 77% in the US vs. 75% in the UK.

Concern that AI data centers could increase household energy bills in their area: 76% in the US vs. 74% in the UK.

Agreement that AI data centers will strain the national grid: 73% in the US vs. 68% in the UK.

Support for limits on high‑emissions “dirty AI” data centers until cleaner power is available: 73% in the US vs. 76% in the UK.

Belief that tech companies should pay for grid upgrades: 79% in the US vs. 81% in the UK.

Support for AI energy labels highlighting energy usage. The labels would indicate pressure on the energy grid and the amount required to generate a response: 85% in the US vs. 86% in the UK.

Support for requiring renewables for large AI companies: 79% in the US vs. 87% in the UK.

Perception that the government is investing enough in AI: 77% in the US vs. 68% in the UK.

Importance of having domestic AI systems: 90% in both countries, with very/extremely important at 69% in the US and 63% in the UK.

Feeling more comfortable with locally hosted and governed AI: 66% in US and 68% in UK.

Interpretation: US respondents are slightly more worried about grid strain, while UK respondents are slightly more demanding on renewables. Support for sovereign, efficient AI is strong on both sides of the Atlantic.

DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES

Age differences – young vs. old:

Regular AI use (“very familiar – I use them regularly,”…