OpenAI faces backlash over first influencer brand trip as critics highlight AI’s environmental costs

OpenAI decided to borrow a page from the beauty industry playbook, flying a group of influencers to a luxury resort for its first-ever brand trip. The internet responded about as warmly as you’d expect when a company building energy-hungry data centers hosts a beekeeping workshop at a $2,000-a-night farm retreat. The event, branded ‘Summer Club,’ took place at Wildflower Farms in New York’s Hudson Valley over the weekend before August 3. Private cabins at the resort run north of $1,000 to $2,000 per night, and the itinerary included hands-on workshops with ChatGPT Work, painting sessions, and farm-to-table dining. The optics problem Critics were quick to point out the dissonance between a wellness-coded luxury weekend and the company’s broader business trajectory. OpenAI is pursuing a $500 billion data center project in Ohio, a venture that will require staggering amounts of energy and water. The company also holds a $200 million contract with the Department of Defense. Pairing those realities with beekeeping and organic dining created exactly the kind of juxtaposition the internet loves to dissect. Attending influencers faced direct accusations of prioritizing luxury over ethical ...