OpenAI Hears Voters’ Overwhelming Rebuke To Data Centers, Vows to Build More of Them

The recent "blue tsunami" of midterm elections highlighted voter dissatisfaction with tech billionaires meddling in politics and suspicion towards the AI industry. OpenAI's CFO, Sarah Friar, seemed oblivious to this trend when she insisted that the company would continue investing in data centers to meet corporate customer demands. In a CNBC interview, Friar emphasized that building relationships with hyperscalers and raising capital were key to achieving this goal.

However, opposing evidence came from local ballot measures restricting AI data centers across 41 jurisdictions. Voters backed all but one of these measures, indicating a strong preference for limiting such constructions. According to NBC News exit polls, 56% of Americans saw AI and data centers as crucial or major factors in their voting decisions. Democrats capitalized on this sentiment, flipping seats in several states by campaigning against data center buildouts.

Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa vowed to impose a moratorium on new data centers, but this was irrelevant to OpenAI. Friar maintained that AI was a real demand, dismissing the election's impact on the company. She claimed the midterm results signaled more focus on communities, promising to build trust through engagements.

OpenAI responded to the election by committing to new efforts in the communities where it is constructing data centers. These measures include ceasing the use of non-disclosure agreements during discussions with government officials. CEO Sam Altman's tweet, urging people to always control the future, seemed to further distance the company from addressing voter concerns.