OpenAI changes strategy to win over data center opponents

OpenAI announced new policies Thursday to build trust with local communities and counter opposition to its data centers, following Democratic victories in US midterm elections that were seen as a rebuke of tech industry expansion plans. The AI lab will stop using non-disclosure agreements with public officials during site negotiations and will share construction plans with residents, including details on traffic, noise, and lighting impacts. OpenAI's chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane said the centers would create ongoing jobs, citing one Ohio facility expected to produce 2,500 long-term positions averaging $80,000 annually. Democrats flipped governorships in Texas, Georgia, and Ohio with candidates promising stricter data center rules, and 40 of 41 related ballot measures went against the industry. Data center operator and power company shares tumbled Wednesday as investors anticipated tougher permitting and slower construction.