OpenAI will keep investing in AI data centers despite election results, CFO tells CNBC

Sarah Friar, OpenAI CFO, speaking to CNBC from Pebble Beach, Calif. on Nov. 6th, 2026.CNBCOpenAI 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 at the Citi TMT Leadership Summit at California's Pebble Beach. "It starts early with having built relationships with all of the hyperscalers, and it will continue to mean that we raise capital."Out of 41 local ballot measures across 10 states, voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures for all but one, according to an analysis by Ballotpedia and additional results gathered by CNBC on Wednesday. Opposition to the facilities mounted swiftly over the summer as Americans grew worried about their potential to harm the environment, raise utility bills and contribute to job loss.Investors have turned skeptical on the AI trade of late due to a combination of higher borrowing costs, concerns about soaring debt and public b...