OpenAI will move forward with its infrastructure spending plans despite public pushback against data centers at the ballot box. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told CNBC that the continuous investment is essential to fulfill customer demand. To execute this growth strategy, the company intends to maintain its existing hyperscaler relationships. Additionally, Friar noted that funding these ongoing infrastructure initiatives will require OpenAI to continue raising capital.
Recent midterm election pushback against data center facilities will not slow OpenAI's cu…: Recent midterm election pushback against data center facilities will not slow OpenAI's current expansion strategy.
Future capital raises will be essential for the company to support ongoing computing capa…: Future capital raises will be essential for the company to support ongoing computing capacity requirements.
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Sarah Friar, chief financial officer of OpenAI, speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2026.
Oscar Molina | CNBC
OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar on Friday said the company will continue to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure, even after voters strongly rebuked data centers during Tuesday's midterm elections.
"When I think about the midterms, I need to keep thinking about how do we keep investing to meet that customer demand," Friar told CNBC's Sara Eisen in an interview. "It starts early with having built relationships with all of the hyperscalers, and it will continue to mean that we raise capital."
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