OpenAI drops NDAs in data center talks after US voter backlash
What's new: The company pledged households will not bear power costs and promised public reporting on noise, water and energy impacts.
OpenAI rolled out a new community framework for its US data center expansion after a wave of election losses and ballot defeats for projects tied to the AI buildout. The company said it will stop using non-disclosure agreements with public officials in site talks, give residents access to construction and impact plans, and publish data on expected effects including traffic, noise, water and energy use. It also pledged that households should not pay for electricity tied to the projects, and said campuses would cut usage during peak periods and return power to the grid. The commitments come as new Democratic governors in states including Texas, Georgia and Ohio push for tighter scrutiny or pauses on new data center permits.