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OpenAI will maintain AI data center investments despite midterm pushback

OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar confirmed the company will proceed with building and investing in AI data centers, despite voters backing curbs on data center projects in recent U.S. midterm ballot measures.

A white hardhat labeled OpenAI overlooks a sprawling construction site with cranes and vehicles.
Image: @StockMKTNewz

OpenAI plans to press ahead with heavy investments in AI data centers despite voter resistance and recent market turbulence, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told CNBC. The remarks come after voters rejected data center expansions in 40 out of 41 local ballot measures during the U.S. midterm elections, and in the wake of a $2.5 trillion market selloff.[1][2][4][5][7]

Friar argued that surging customer adoption requires continued compute infrastructure, reporting that OpenAI's business grew over 70% quarter-over-quarter in the third quarter as enterprise demand doubled over the same timeframe, according to Reuters. She also pushed back on claims that the company had pared back fundraising goals, confirming that OpenAI is actively raising fresh capital to meet infrastructure needs.[2][4]

To address local concerns, Friar stated that OpenAI will focus on building relationships and trust with communities where it develops infrastructure. As part of this push for transparency, OpenAI announced it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements with public officials when negotiating future site developments and will grant local residents access to construction plans.[2][3][7][8]

Key facts

  • OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar told CNBC that the company will continue investing in and building AI data centers despite election outcomes.
  • Voters rejected data center expansion in 40 out of 41 local ballot measures during the U.S. midterm elections.
  • OpenAI's business expanded by more than 70% quarter-over-quarter in Q3, and enterprise demand doubled over the same period.
  • OpenAI will stop using non-disclosure agreements with public officials for future site negotiations and will allow residents access to construction plans.
  • Friar confirmed that OpenAI is raising fresh capital, rejecting suggestions that the company had scaled down its fundraising efforts.

Sources · 7 sources

  1. CB

    Crypto Briefing@Crypto_BriefingPost on X ·

    🚨 NEW: OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar says the company will continue investing in AI data centers despite widespread voter opposition in the US midterm elections, CNBC reports. https://t.co/gDqwSMYgvO

    Open source
  2. EV

    Evan@StockMKTNewzPost on X ·

    OPENAI'S CFO SAYS IT WILL KEEP BUILDING DATA CENTERS AFTER THURSDAY'S $2.5 TRILLION SELLOFF Sarah Friar told CNBC that OpenAI's business grew +70% quarter over quarter in Q3, and that enterprise demand doubled over the same period, per Reuters. "It is saying people are actually using AI and getting value from it." On the midterms: "When I think about the midterms, I need to keep thinking about how do we keep investing to meet customer demand." On communities: "We are going to keep building out those relationships with communities so we can get the compute we need." OpenAI said it will stop using non-disclosure agreements with public officials when negotiating future sites, and will give residents access to construction plans. Friar also said OpenAI is raising fresh capital, pushing back on suggestions it had scaled back its fundraising plans. Google $GOOGL said Thursday it will invest $17 billion to build its first data center in Wyoming.

    Open source
  3. CB

    Crypto BriefingArticle ·

    OpenAI says its data center spending continues regardless of election results OpenAI's commitment to data center investments, despite political shifts, may set new industry standards for community engagement and transparency. The post OpenAI says its data center spending continues regardless of election results appeared first on Crypto Briefing .

    Open source
  4. QU

    Quartz@qzPost on X ·

    OpenAI executive vows to keep building data centers after midterm election rebuke: CFO Sarah Friar said OpenAI will keep raising capital to meet customer demand after voters backed curbs on data centers in local ballot measures dlvr.​it/TWDLqV https://t.co/HURk07MUNW

    Open source
  5. CN

    CNBC@CNBCPost on X ·

    OpenAI will keep investing in AI data centers despite election results, CFO tells CNBC https://t.co/qoS0mvAKtr

    Open source
  6. *B

    *Walter Bloomberg@DeItaonePost on X ·

    OPENAI WILL KEEP INVESTING IN AI DATA CENTERS DESPITE ELECTION RESULTS, CFO TELLS CNBC

    Open source
  7. QU

    Quartz@qzPost on X ·

    OpenAI will keep building data centers — voters or not Voters rejected data center expansion in 40 out of 41 local ballot measures, but OpenAI's CFO says the company is pressing forward anyway — pledging community trust-building, transpare #OpenAI #DataCenters #AIInfrastructure https://t.co/6IS1hmOE1s

    Open source
  8. BI

    Business Insider@BusinessInsiderPost on X ·

    OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said the company will work to continue "to build trust" with communities where it builds data centers. https://t.co/dQO2zZKQln

    Open source