오픈AI CFO, 미국 중간선거 결과에도 “AI 데이터센터 투자 계속”

As artificial intelligence (AI) data center construction faced opposition during the U.S. midterm elections, OpenAI, an AI-focused company, announced it would proceed with its investment plans without delay. CFO Sera Priyer stated in a CNBC interview on June 6, noting that despite the election results, investment in data centers will continue to align with customer demand.

She highlighted that OpenAI had achieved 120 million active users in the recent quarter and that corporate sales had doubled. Priyer emphasized that the election results would not significantly change OpenAI's business strategy, stating that AI demand truly exists. She assured that the company would continue its infrastructure investments, even as the opposition to data centers became apparent in the midterm elections.

Priyer pledged to overcome resistance through building trust with local communities, investing in areas like free school lunches, parks, and addressing concerns such as higher electricity bills, water scarcity, and noise pollution. Earlier this week, OpenAI unveiled its "National Community Compact" plan, which stipulates that the company will bear all costs related to the power usage and power grid establishment of its owned and operated data centers.

The agreement also includes plans for water usage and mitigation efforts for water scarcity. Meanwhile, the U.S. midterm elections saw a surge in Democratic candidates advocating for AI regulation, leading to concerns that data center construction regulations would be strengthened. Texas, one of the most active states in data center construction, saw its governor-elect promise to halt new construction until a residential protection agency was established.

Ohio, where the Democratic candidate also won, is facing an uncertain future for its business outlook.