OpenAI says it will continue investing in AI infrastructure despite U.S. midterm results, focus on easing community opposition

[Financial News] With opposition to AI data center construction evident in the U.S. midterm elections, OpenAI said it plans to continue investing in related infrastructure. As demand for AI services grows rapidly, the company intends to keep expanding its data center capacity while stepping up cooperation to address local residents’ concerns.
According to U.S. business broadcaster CNBC on the 6th (local time), OpenAI Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sarah Friar said in an interview, “Even in light of the midterm election results, we have to consider continuing to invest to meet customer demand.”
Friar said, “Demand for AI is real,” expressing the view that claims denying AI demand itself are unconvincing.
She cited growth in actual users and an expanding enterprise customer base as grounds for continuing to invest. OpenAI’s weekly active users (WAU) reached 1.2 billion in the third quarter of this year, and revenue from enterprise customers doubled as the company added major firms such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. as clients, she explained.
To meet this growing demand, OpenAI plans to expand its partnerships with “hyperscalers,” which operate large-scale data centers, and continue raising the funds needed for investment. It also plans to address the opposition to data center construction evident in the midterm elections by working with local communities.
The company said it would address residents’ concerns, including higher electricity bills and water shortages resulting from data center operations, as well as noise, while also pursuing support initiatives needed in the area. It also proposed investing in projects local residents want, such as funding free school meals or building parks.
On the 5th, shortly after Democrats won a sweeping victory in the midterm elections and many candidates calling for stricter AI regulations were elected, OpenAI announced a plan for a “national community agreement.” The plan’s main provisions are for the company to directly cover the costs of expanding the power grid and strengthen cooperation with local residents.
OpenAI is also continuing to secure funding to support its large-scale infrastructure investments. CFO Friar said the company would continue its ongoing fundraising process at a valuation of $1.25 trillion (about 1,700 trillion won). It has raised $11 billion so far in the funding round.
As for the timing of an initial public offering (IPO), OpenAI said it would continue to consider a listing next year. Anthropic, a competitor founded by former OpenAI employees, began the formal listing process after making its registration statement public at the end of last month. Friar had previously told employees in August that it would be no problem if OpenAI went public later than Anthropic.

[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter