NEWS: As community opposition to data centers climbs, OpenAI is extending an olive branch. 🕊️

OpenAI has launched a “Grid Protectors Program” to boost coordination with utilities and governments impacted by the tech titan’s data centers. The goal? To reduce these facilities’ demand during grid stress.

How will it work? OpenAI pointed to its agreement with Georgia Power for a planned 3.2-GW data center, which is set to provide up to 1 GW of flexible demand response. “This means we can turn down our demand so that families, small businesses, and other ratepayers will continue to have power,” the company wrote. 

Reality check: The announcement was scant on specifics, and the program seems to lack teeth. Sound familiar? It reminds us of the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge…which also left plenty of questions unanswered.