OpenAI Drops NDAs With Officials in New Data Center Commitments

OpenAI has pledged to stop asking public officials to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of a set of new promises tied to its data center work, according to The Verge. The announcement came shortly after this week's midterm elections, in which voters made clear their resistance to expanding data centers.

The company said it will limit confidentiality to a narrow set of cases. Those cover security details that are legitimate, trade secrets, and information that is proprietary or sensitive for competitive reasons.

The move follows scrutiny of data center deals that have leaned on NDAs to keep talks between developers and local officials out of public view. Amazon said in October that it would stop using such agreements with government agencies it partners with on data center projects.

OpenAI outlined other pledges alongside the change. It said it will cover the entire cost of the electricity its facilities draw, as well as the infrastructure required to support its operations.

The company also said it will publish the jobs it expects to create and report on its hiring, aiming to open opportunities for residents of nearby areas. Each future compute campus, the company's term for the data centers it owns and runs, will carry what it calls a local compact. That document will list the commitments and is meant to mirror the priorities of the surrounding area, OpenAI said.

The commitments arrive as data center growth has become a flashpoint in local politics. The midterm results showed broad voter pushback against expansion, adding pressure on technology companies to be more open about their plans.

OpenAI's shift on confidentiality applies to public officials involved in its projects. The company did not say how the pledges would be enforced or whether they would extend to existing sites.