OpenAI Proposes ‘Compute Campuses’

OpenAI plans to call the large facilities that power its AI services “compute campuses” instead of data centers, a company spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider on Sunday. The spokesperson said the term better describes the scale and role of the infrastructure OpenAI is building, calling it a long-term investment in computing, energy infrastructure and skilled work.

The proposed name comes as public views of AI data centers face scrutiny: a recent Pew Research poll found that 54% of Americans say they are bad for the environment. Data centers have become a major issue for voters in the midterms. Meta, Amazon and Microsoft have pledged millions of dollars to communities and schools around their centers; OpenAI is also betting a rebrand will help improve public opinion.

An OpenAI spokesperson said the communities hosting the infrastructure should help shape it and share in the opportunities it creates. It remains uncertain whether “compute campus” will catch on. Axios earlier reported that OpenAI was preparing for a blue wave in Tuesday’s midterm elections, which could bring a more regulatory-minded government.

OpenAI plans to call the large facilities that power its AI services “compute campuses” instead of data centers, a company spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider on Sunday. The spokesperson said the term better describes the scale and role of the infrastructure OpenAI is building, calling it a long-term investment in computing, energy infrastructure and skilled work.

The proposed name comes as public views of AI data centers face scrutiny: a recent Pew Research poll found that 54% of Americans say they are bad for the environment. Data centers have become a major issue for voters in the midterms. Meta, Amazon and Microsoft have pledged millions of dollars to communities and schools around their centers; OpenAI is also betting a rebrand will help improve public opinion.

An OpenAI spokesperson said the communities hosting the infrastructure should help shape it and share in the opportunities it creates. It remains uncertain whether “compute campus” will catch on. Axios earlier reported that OpenAI was preparing for a blue wave in Tuesday’s midterm elections, which could bring a more regulatory-minded government.