OpenAI is quietly renaming data centers ‘compute campuses’

OpenAI has quietly begun referring to its data centers as 'compute campuses,' debuting the term in a roughly 900-word announcement about its new 'Grid Protectors Program,' which aims to address concerns about strain on local power grids. The phrase 'data center' appeared only twice in the announcement, while 'compute campus' was used more frequently. The timing is notable: Axios reported the same day that OpenAI planned the rebrand as part of a policy and PR push after the midterms, anticipating a more hostile regulatory environment. Critics, including PauseAI US founder Holly Elmore and NAACP environmental justice director Abre' Conner, dismissed the rebrand as a transparent PR move that does nothing to address data centers' environmental footprint, resource burdens, or the concerns of nearby residents. Conner argued OpenAI should change its practices rather than its terminology, while Elmore suggested OpenAI is trying to keep pace with rival Anthropic, which has pledged to cover grid upgrade costs and invest in community projects. OpenAI did not respond to The Verge's request for comment on the nomenclature change or its motivations.

(Source：The Verge)