OpenAI might rebrand its data centers as ‘AI compute campuses’

OpenAI is preparing a public-relations campaign after the November 2026 U.S. midterm elections that could include calling data centers “AI compute campuses,” Axios reported. Chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane said the company expects artificial intelligence to become a central issue in the 2028 U.S. presidential election and intends to influence the policy debate. Lehane outlined proposals including AI “speed limits,” efforts to show how AI can empower people in daily life, and a larger U.S. role in developing global AI standards. He described the midterm elections as “a bit of a movie trailer” for the political debate OpenAI expects in 2028. The planned terminology change comes as data centers face local opposition and increased scrutiny over their community impacts. Lehane called public debate over data-center projects “good and healthy,” saying communities should hold companies accountable for delivering transformative benefits. Amazon and Microsoft have separately said they will no longer use nondisclosure agreements in negotiations with local governments over data-center development.