Why It Matters
Georgia’s governor has been briefed directly by OpenAI on the artificial intelligence company’s expansion plans in the state, signaling high-level state interest in attracting major AI infrastructure investment as the Trump administration prioritizes data center development across the nation.
What Happened
Gov. Brian Kemp met with senior OpenAI representatives in May in Atlanta, according to scheduling documents released through open records requests. Georgia Power also sent representatives to the meeting, which was designed to update the governor on OpenAI’s activity in Georgia.
A one-page briefing memo dated May 20 prepared by Kemp’s scheduling director indicated the meeting would cover OpenAI’s interest in specific sites within the state, prospective job creation, investment commitments, the company’s broader strategy, and implementation timelines. OpenAI attendees included senior leaders responsible for site readiness and development, economic development, and power projects—suggesting the company brought expertise across multiple operational divisions.
Neither the governor’s office, OpenAI, nor Georgia Power provided additional details about what was discussed during the meeting. A spokesman for Gov. Kemp declined to elaborate, saying the governor “cannot comment on the governor’s ‘private conversations and meetings,’ but noted that Kemp meets frequently with business executives to remain informed about developments in their industries.”
Georgia’s AI Infrastructure Push
The meeting reflects Georgia’s growing focus on artificial intelligence as an economic development priority. The state established an Office of Artificial Intelligence in 2025 and has distributed 500 ChatGPT enterprise licenses to state employees. According to records from Georgia’s state AI Advisory Council, state staff have used ChatGPT thousands of times in recent months.
By the Numbers
$500 billion — the size of the “Stargate” national AI data center construction plan involving OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank Group
500 — ChatGPT enterprise licenses distributed to Georgia state employees
May 20 — the date of the briefing memo for Kemp’s meeting with OpenAI
2025 — the year Georgia created its state Office of Artificial Intelligence
Zoom Out
The Kemp-OpenAI meeting comes as the national AI data center buildout accelerates. One day after his January 2025 inauguration, President Trump announced support for the Stargate project, a massive partnership between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank designed to fund $500 billion in data center construction nationwide. The project has already announced sites in Wisconsin, Texas, and Minnesota, with construction moving forward in Michigan despite local objections.
Georgia has experienced mixed results in attracting data center projects. A proposed Stargate data center in Kingsland withdrew its rezoning request after community opposition, while similar projects have faced resistance in other states. The state’s pitch to major AI companies combines available power infrastructure through Georgia Power, existing technology corridors, and newly developed AI policy expertise through the Office of Artificial Intelligence.
What’s Next
The nature and scope of OpenAI’s potential investment in Georgia remain unclear. The company’s discussion of “specific sites,” job creation targets, and investment timelines suggests concrete site evaluations may be underway, though no formal announcements have been made. Georgia’s role in the broader Stargate buildout and whether the state will host a major data center hub will likely become clearer as OpenAI and its partners finalize site selections across the country.