OpenAI財務長告訴CNBC：儘管期中選舉民主黨大勝，仍將推動資料中心擴張

11月6日（路透社）——OpenAI財務長莎拉・弗萊爾（Sarah Friar）週五接受CNBC訪問時表示，儘管本週美國期中選舉民主黨大勝，引發外界擔憂資料中心將面臨更嚴格審查，OpenAI仍將推動其美國資料中心擴張計畫。Nov 6 (Reuters) - OpenAI will press ahead with its US data-center expansion plans despite a Democratic midterm sweep this week that has fueled fears of tighter scrutiny of the facilities, its Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar told CNBC in an interview on Friday.

弗萊爾說：「當我思考期中選舉時，我必須持續思考的是，我們要如何繼續投資以滿足客戶需求。」她補充說：「我們會繼續和這些社區建立關係，好讓我們取得所需的運算能力。」"When I think about the midterms, I need to keep thinking about how do we keep investing to meet customer demand," Friar said. "We are going to keep building out those relationships with communities so we can get the compute we need," she added.

OpenAI是AI熱潮中的企業代表之一，已迅速採取行動，試圖化解國會權力轉移可能拖慢產業成長的疑慮。隨著反對資料中心成為各界對這項技術焦慮的集結點，OpenAI週四展開魅力攻勢，以爭取社區支持。One of the corporate faces of the AI boom, OpenAI has moved quickly to counter fears that a shift in congressional power could slow the industry's growth. It launched a charm offensive on Thursday to win over communities as opposition to data centers becomes a rallying point for anxieties about the technology.

OpenAI表示，作為這些努力的一環，公司未來在協商或討論潛在設址時，將不再與公職人員簽署保密協議；也會讓居民取得興建計畫及其可能影響的資訊。As part of the efforts, OpenAI said, it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements with public officials when negotiating or discussing future sites. It will also give residents access to construction plans ⁠and their potential effects.

對資料中心日益升高的反對聲浪，是這次期中選舉的關鍵議題。包括德州州長當選人吉娜・伊諾霍薩（Gina Hinojosa）在內的民主黨候選人，都將加強審查這些設施列為核心競選承諾。素有「孤星州」之稱的德州，是全球資料中心成長最快的地區之一。Growing data-center opposition was a crucial issue in the midterm elections. Democratic candidates, including Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, made tighter scrutiny of the facilities a central campaign pledge. The Lone Star State is one of the fastest-growing data-center regions in the world.

投資人評估這項支出熱潮的後續衝擊，特別是對其中最大受惠者之一的晶片、雲端和網路產業造成的影響；由於市場擔心民主黨大勝可能拖慢AI熱潮所仰賴的資料中心興建，美國股市週四市值蒸發約2.5兆美元。Fears the Democratic sweep may slow construction of the facilities critical to the AI boom wiped about $2.5 trillion off the US stock market on Thursday, as investors weighed the fallout for the chip, cloud and networking industries that have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the spending frenzy.

不過，仍有跡象顯示，儘管反彈聲浪日益升高，科技巨頭仍致力推動資料中心擴張計畫。Still, there are signs that tech giants remain committed to data-center expansion plans despite the growing backlash.

Alphabet旗下Google週四表示，將投資170億美元在懷俄明州興建該公司在當地的首座資料中心。Alphabet-owned Google said on Thursday it would invest $17 billion to build its first data center in Wyoming.

同時，彭博新聞報導，字節跳動（ByteDance）正考慮擴大巴西東北部的一項資料中心計畫；此舉將鞏固其作為拉丁美洲領先運算設施建設者的地位。Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reported that ByteDance is considering expanding a data center project in northeastern Brazil, a move that would strengthen its standing as Latin America's leading builder of computing facilities.

OPENAI的募資計畫OPENAI'S FUNDRAISING PLANS

弗萊爾也告訴CNBC，OpenAI正在募集新資金；她反駁了外界所稱在AI類股大幅拋售之際，這家ChatGPT開發商已縮減募資雄心的說法。Friar also told CNBC that OpenAI was raising fresh capital, pushing back against suggestions the ChatGPT maker had scaled back its fundraising ambitions amid the sharp AI stocks selloff.

她表示，由於公司第3季業務較前一季成長70%，同期企業需求也翻倍，OpenAI正尋求新的資金。The company is seeking fresh capital after its business grew 70% quarter over quarter in the third quarter, with enterprise demand doubling over the same period, she said.

弗萊爾說：「這（成長）顯示，人們確實正在使用AI，並從中獲得價值。」"It (the growth) is saying people are actually using AI and getting value from it," Friar said.

這項募資進行之際，市場動盪也讓外界開始質疑OpenAI競爭對手Anthropic備受期待的上市計畫。The fundraising comes as the market turmoil is raising questions about OpenAI rival Anthropic's widely awaited listing.

路透社週四報導，Anthropic首次公開募股（IPO）的潛在投資人正在質疑，這家AI新創公司是否能在下週展開路演，並維持11月上市的時程。Reuters reported on Thursday that prospective investors in Anthropic's IPO are questioning whether the AI startup can begin its roadshow next week and stay on track for a November listing.

4名熟悉投資人討論情況的人士告訴路透社，投資人正要求更具吸引力的估值，才願意認購這次發行；其中一些人認為，近期討論的1.5兆美元估值已位於預期區間高端。Investors are pushing ‌for a more attractive valuation to commit to the offering, with some viewing the recently discussed $1.5 trillion valuation as being at the high end of expectations, four people familiar with investor discussions told Reuters.

（班加羅爾Aditya Soni報導；Joyjeet Das編輯）(Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das)