OpenAI has begun referring to its data centers as “compute campuses,” introducing the terminology in a Monday announcement about a new Initiative to address pressure on local power grids. The program, called Grid Protectors, will start at a planned site in Effingham County, Georgia, and is intended to respond to concerns about electricity use during extreme weather and emergencies.
The roughly 900-word announcement used “data center” twice, while “compute campus” appeared more often. OpenAI said it would “pay the costs we create” and help communities keep their power on. It also described its new facilities as different from data centers built several years ago, saying they would give the company flexibility in its power demand.
The name appears to be new to OpenAI’s public communications, according to a search of the company’s website cited by The Verge. The shift follows an Axios report that OpenAI planned to use “AI compute campuses” as part of a policy and public-relations effort amid a potentially more difficult regulatory climate. The Verge reported that OpenAI did not respond to questions about the terminology or its reasons for adopting it.
Critics say a rebrand does not resolve concerns about energy use, local resources, environmental effects, or costs that could fall on consumers. Holly Elmore, founder and executive director of PauseAI US, told The Verge that the issue is the scale and impact of the projects, not what they are called. Abre’ Conner, who directs the NAACP’s Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, likewise described the name change as an inadequate response to harms associated with data center infrastructure.
The article also contrasted OpenAI’s announcement with commitments from rival Anthropic. Earlier this year, Anthropic said it would pay for grid upgrades needed to connect its data centers and invest in community projects developed with local leaders. The Verge noted that Anthropic’s commitments cover leased and owned facilities.
Sources: The Verge.