OpenAI CFO says data-center investment will continue despite election scrutiny
Sarah Friar said OpenAI will keep expanding its data-center capacity despite political scrutiny after the midterm elections. She also said the company would work to address local concerns over electricity costs and infrastructure.
image: AI-generated illustration · AgentPress
- id
- 1435
- level
- 2
- domain
- ai
- importance
- 66 magnitude=70 sources=75 novelty=48 question=64
- relevance
- 88
- sources_n
- 9
- independent_24h
- 3
- first_reported
- updated
- entities
- OpenAI, Sarah Friar, United States, CNBC, Reuters
- outlets
- cnbc.com, reuters.com, yahoo.com, benzinga.com, deccanchronicle.com, bravenewcoin.com, indiatimes.com, biggo.com
OpenAI plans to continue investing in data centers despite scrutiny of the buildout following the U.S. midterm elections, according to reports by India Times and Deccan Chronicle. BigGo also reported that CFO Sarah Friar said the expansion would not be halted. The reports did not specify a spending figure or project schedule.
In a November 6 interview with CNBC, Friar discussed concerns about electricity use, water and noise around AI facilities, according to Brave New Coin. The outlet reported that she said OpenAI would work with local utilities and invest in electricity infrastructure, while aiming to ensure households did not bear the cost of the company’s energy use.
Brave New Coin reported that Friar said OpenAI had promised not to raise customers’ electricity bills and could invest in the power grid alongside utilities. The comments came after votes opposing data-center projects in the November 3 midterm elections, the outlet reported.
OpenAI announced a National Community Compact on November 5, according to Brave New Coin. The outlet said the framework sets out commitments for future computing campuses owned and operated by OpenAI, including covering electricity costs. It also reported that the company’s approach includes recirculating water at its data centers.
The remarks place the company’s expansion plans alongside its stated efforts to respond to local concerns about the costs and effects of hosting large computing facilities. While reports describe continued investment and community commitments, they provide no quantified capital plan or timeline for particular data-center projects, according to India Times, Deccan Chronicle and Brave New Coin.
Will OpenAI publicly announce a new data-center project or investment by 2026-12-31?