OpenAI Hires Data Center Expert Amid Growing Anti-Infrastructure Backlash
OpenAI has hired Yvette Eden Ruiz to lead its Community Engagement team from JPMorgan Chase, where she spent the last 12 years. Ruiz expressed excitement about joining OpenAI and acknowledged that the conversation around data centers has become politicized.
Ruiz wants to address misinformation and extremes by approaching big issues with curiosity, candor, and a willingness to hold competing truths. She believes OpenAI has an opportunity to set a new standard for building infrastructure responsibly.
As part of her work, Ruiz aims to ensure that communities benefit from major investments by OpenAI. The company has promised to pay for any grid upgrades required by its compute footprint to avoid energy price increases for locals.
The anti-data center movement is gaining momentum globally due to concerns about power and water use, air quality, and AI job losses. In the US, projects have been delayed or canceled, and local governments have enacted moratoriums in various states.