OpenAI pledges to pay for data center power after election
OpenAI said it will pay the full cost of powering data centers as it publishes commitments after voters rejected rapid AI expansion.
At a glance
- OpenAI pledged to pay the full cost of powering data centers it owns and operates.
- The commitments were published two days after voters rejected rapid AI expansion at the polls.
- OpenAI also encouraged policymakers to adopt similar data center commitments as laws.
OpenAI said it reaffirmed its promise to pay the full cost of powering data centers, part of commitments published Thursday, two days after Americans at the polls roundly rejected the rapid expansion of AI.
The company said that for data centers it owns and operates, it will solicit community input, publish construction plans and stay away from use of non-disclosure agreements with public officials. In a policy blueprint, OpenAI also encouraged policymakers to enact similar commitments as laws.
Context
Opposition to AI data centers mounted over the summer across both sides of the political aisle, according to an analysis by Ballotpedia and additional results gathered by CNBC. Consumers grappling with inflation, rising grocery prices and stubbornly high prices at the pump grew worried that facilities could exacerbate environmental harms, raise utility bills and contribute to job loss.
For many, the issue became a physical manifestation of the widespread antipathy and anxiety around AI.
On Tuesday, Americans issued a stinging rebuke of data centers at the polls. Out of 41 local ballot measures across 10 states, voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures for all but one, according to Ballotpedia and additional results gathered by CNBC on Wednesday.
AI companies like OpenAI depend on AI data centers to serve customers and develop new models, and they are seeking to build out as rapidly as possible to meet demand. In February, OpenAI told investors that it was targeting $600 billion in total compute spend by 2030, and the company has since announced massive data center projects in Georgia and Ohio.
OpenAI has repeatedly pledged to protect ratepayers and invest in local communities this year. Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane said the latest commitments build on previous initiatives, and that the policy blueprint has been in the works since August. He said he met with dozens of lawmakers and candidates since then.
Source: CNBC
Questions and answers
- What did OpenAI pledge to do about data center power?
- OpenAI said it would pay the full cost of powering data centers it owns and operates. It also said it would seek community input and publish construction plans.
- Why did OpenAI make data center power commitments?
- The commitments came two days after voters at the polls roundly rejected the rapid expansion of AI. OpenAI said the latest commitments build on previous initiatives.
- What did voters decide about AI data centers?
- Out of 41 local ballot measures across 10 states, voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures for all but one, according to Ballotpedia and CNBC.
