OpenAI has announced new commitments to communities where it is pursuing data center projects, stating it will not use non-disclosure agreements with public officials. The company says it will retain only narrow protections covering legitimate security information, trade secrets, or proprietary and competitively sensitive details. The announcement follows this week’s midterms, in which voters expressed opposition to data center expansion. Many such projects have faced scrutiny for relying on NDAs to keep discussions between developers and local officials out of public view. According to the report, Amazon made a similar announcement in October, saying it would no longer use such agreements.
Why it matters
NDAs between developers and local officials have been criticized for limiting transparency around data center projects. Narrowing their use could change how these negotiations are disclosed to the public.
Who should care
Local officials, residents in communities hosting data center projects, and others tracking the governance of AI infrastructure may find the policy shift relevant.