OpenAI might rebrand its data centers as ‘AI compute campuses’

Key points

• OpenAI is preparing a public relations push after the midterm elections on Tuesday, according to Axios.
• Chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane said OpenAI may rebrand data centers as "AI compute campuses."
• Lehane said the midterms will be "a bit of a movie trailer" for the 2028 presidential election, when he expects AI to be the central issue.

OpenAI is preparing a public relations campaign for after the midterm elections on Tuesday, Axios reports. The company's chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, outlined several proposals aimed at shaping the AI debate going forward.

Among the ideas Lehane discussed with Axios is rebranding data centers as "AI compute campuses." Data centers have drawn widespread opposition, and the article notes that the new label would be part of an effort to change how the public views them.

Plans for the AI debate

Lehane's proposals include developing AI "speed limits" and finding ways to help people see AI as empowering them in daily life. He also wants to push the U.S. to take a role in developing global standards.

Lehane told Axios the midterms will be "a bit of a movie trailer for what you're going to see in 2028," when he expects AI to be "the issue" in the presidential election. The outlet reports that Democrats seem likely to win back the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate.

Communities should hold companies responsible and accountable so they really and truly get a transformative benefit from these projects

— Chris Lehane

Views on data center debate

Lehane described the conversation around data centers as "good and healthy." He said communities should hold companies responsible and accountable so they "really and truly get a transformative benefit from these projects."

The article notes that the data center debate has pushed Amazon and Microsoft to say they will no longer use NDAs in negotiations with local governments.