OpenAI pledges to pay for the power its data centers use

OpenAI pledges to pay the full cost of the power its future data centers use.

OpenAI published a National Community Compact and a Compute Campus Policy Blueprint, according to Engadget and CNBC. The commitments apply to data centers it owns and operates in the future.

Key details: community input, published construction plans, no NDAs with public officials, water and electricity use published for each site, a water plan for host communities, and local jobs. OpenAI also reaffirmed it will cover electricity and the infrastructure upgrades power providers need.

The timing: it came two days after midterms in which voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development data center measures in all but one of 41 local ballot measures across 10 states, per CNBC. OpenAI says it planned the updates before the results, and Chris Lehane says the blueprint has been in the works since August.

Watch for whether policymakers turn these commitments into law, which OpenAI encouraged in the blueprint.

The facts we checked

OpenAI announced, according to CNBC and Engadget

1. OpenAI published a National Community Compact and a Compute Campus Policy Blueprint describing what communities can expect from its future data centers.Fact · Engadget
2. The commitments apply to data centers OpenAI owns and operates in the future.Reported · CNBC
3. OpenAI said it will solicit community input and publish construction plans for these projects.Fact · CNBC
4. OpenAI reaffirmed its promise to pay the full cost of the electricity it uses, plus the infrastructure buildouts and upgrades power providers need to serve its facilities.Reported · Engadget
5. OpenAI said it will not use non-disclosure agreements with public officials.Fact · CNBC
6. OpenAI said it will publish water and electricity use for each site.Reported · Engadget
7. OpenAI pledged to develop a water plan for host communities and to prioritize closed-loop or low-water cooling.Reported · Engadget
8. OpenAI said it will create jobs for local workers and businesses.Reported · Engadget
9. In the policy blueprint, OpenAI encouraged policymakers to enact similar commitments as laws.Reported · CNBC
10. "What we're doing with this blueprint is really laying out the best lessons that we have learned and committing to applying them as they go forward." - Chris Lehane, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs OfficerQuote · CNBC
11. Lehane said the blueprint has been in the works since August.Reported · CNBC
12. According to Bloomberg, as cited by Engadget, OpenAI said it had worked on the updates for months and planned them before the election results.Reported · Engadget
13. The commitments were published two days after Tuesday's midterm elections, in which voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures on data centers.Reported · CNBC
14. Out of 41 local ballot measures across 10 states, voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures for all but one, per a Ballotpedia analysis and CNBC's own results.Figure · CNBC

Sources

• EngadgetOpenAI says it will protect local resources and report on the impact of its data centers
• CNBCOpenAI pledges to pay for data center power after election highlights AI concerns
• OpenAISetting a new standard for responsible AI infrastructure