Abstract:
Just two days after voters expressed their opinion on the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in the vote, OpenAI announced multiple commitments on Thursday, once again reaffirming that it will fully bear the cost of powering its data centers. The artificial intelligence company stated in its commitment document that it will solicit community opinions, make construction plans public, and will no longer sign confidentiality agreements with public officials for its own and operated data centers. In addition, OpenAI calls on policymakers in its policy platform to elevate similar commitments into law.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking at Oracle Artificial Intelligence World Conference in Las Vegas on October 27, 2026
“This guideline essentially organizes the best practice experience we have accumulated and promises to implement it in the future.” Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s global director of affairs, said at a media briefing on Wednesday. “This helps to set a high bottom-line standard for the industry’s subsequent operations.”
American voters cast a strong vote against data centers at the polls on Tuesday. According to Ballotpedia data and election results compiled on Wednesday: Of a total of 41 local referendum proposals in 10 states across the United States, only one was supported by voters; for the remaining proposals, voters either supported restrictions on data centers or rejected bills supporting development.
This summer, opposition to AI data centers emerged from both parties in the United States. Ordinary people struggling with inflation, rising food prices, and high gasoline prices worry that such facilities will exacerbate environmental damage, drive up utility bills, and cause job losses. In the eyes of many people, data centers have become a concrete manifestation of the general public’s aversion and anxiety towards artificial intelligence.
AI companies such as OpenAI rely on data centers to serve users and develop new models, and are striving to rapidly expand computing facilities to meet market demand. The company revealed to investors in February that it aims to spend about $600 billion on cumulative computing power by 2030. Since then, OpenAI has successively announced two giant data center projects in Effingham County and PORTS-Pike.
This year OpenAI has repeatedly pledged to protect electricity paying groups and invest in local communities. Lehane said the latest commitments build on previous initiatives. The policy platform has been in the works since August, and he has since held talks with dozens of lawmakers and candidates.
“Carrying out these communications now can further promote progress in related work. By the time the new Congress formally takes up its duties at the end of January, a large amount of preparatory work will have been completed.” Lehane said.
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