Behind the protests over Flock cameras and data centers are fears about the dawn of a new tech era. It's Hot Luddite Summer. As the mood of the nation sours on Silicon Valley's vision for the future, Flock cameras and data centers have become personae non grata in several communities.

In many ways, they are physical manifestations of AI—an incorporeal technology—that's fueling both big dreams and new nightmares. On Thursday, amid mounting public pressure, Flock announced changes aimed at addressing fears over access to license-plate data its cameras collect across the country for law-enforcement agencies and other customers.

That blowback comes as a rush to build out data centers for AI has sparked backlashes in several states, becoming a major political issue in elections that will decide gubernatorial races and control of Congress in November. Even American music legend Willie Nelson has joined the broader fight.

But it's more than just opposing AI. The protests are a symptom of a yearning for an American ideal without AI. It's a vibe, perhaps, best captured in a social-media meme catching fire this summer that highlights videos of old trucks, classic rock and a simpler way of life. Or, as the meme says: "This and never hearing about AI again."