OpenAI is reportedly considering rebranding its data centers as “AI compute campuses” as opposition to large-scale computing facilities grows across the United States. According to Axios, the company is also preparing a broader public relations campaign to shape the public debate around artificial intelligence before the 2028 presidential election.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, described the upcoming U.S. midterm elections as “a bit of a movie trailer for what you’re going to see in 2028.” He expects artificial intelligence to become a major issue for presidential candidates as concerns continue to focus on employment, the economy and the environment.
OpenAI has reportedly been discussing the terminology change since August. The company says that “compute campuses” better reflects the infrastructure being developed to support AI, including investments in computing, energy infrastructure and skilled jobs. Lehane has also described proposed safeguards for advanced AI systems as “speed limits.”
The proposed name comes as communities near data centers increasingly question their impact. These facilities can require substantial amounts of electricity and water, while residents have raised concerns about noise, air pollution, higher utility bills and limited public involvement in project decisions. OpenAI is seeking to address some of those concerns through community agreements and a different way of presenting the projects.
Other technology companies have taken similar steps to improve relations with communities hosting their infrastructure. Microsoft announced a community-first approach in January that included covering electricity cost increases linked to its data centers and investing in local infrastructure and jobs. However, changing the terminology may not be enough to alter public opinion. A Redfin report published in May found that 47% of surveyed Americans opposed building a new data center in their community. Another report in August said negotiations between developers and local authorities often occur under nondisclosure agreements, limiting residents’ access to project information.
The backlash has also affected construction plans. At least 19 Michigan municipalities have moved to restrict new data center developments after OpenAI and Oracle’s $16 billion Stargate project proceeded in Sanilac Township despite local opposition. Amazon, meanwhile, abandoned plans for four data centers in Northern Virginia following community resistance.
OpenAI’s language proposal follows broader efforts to rename or reframe AI-related concepts. President Donald Trump has previously urged federal agencies and AI companies to replace “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence,” arguing that the word “artificial” made the technology sound fake. His administration later instructed State Department employees to use “super intelligence” or “SI” in official materials.
Several technology executives have also adopted similar terminology. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has referred to data centers as “superintelligence factories,” while Meta created Meta Superintelligence Labs in 2025. Microsoft has also formed a team focused on developing superintelligence. For OpenAI, however, the proposed rebranding will not remove the pressure on the company to explain how these projects address their effects on local communities. Lehane acknowledged that residents should hold companies accountable and ensure they receive a meaningful benefit from the developments.
Sources: Tom's Hardware.