OpenAI Data Center Chief Exits Amid Executive Departures and Growing Backlash Against AI Infrastructure

A senior executive at OpenAI has left the company, adding to a string of high-profile departures from the artificial intelligence lab. Chris Malone, who headed up data centers for OpenAI, is no longer with the organization, CNBC confirmed. This latest exit comes as OpenAI faces growing scrutiny over its ambitious infrastructure plans and mounting backlash against data centers in the US.

Malone joined OpenAI in March 2025 after a distinguished career at Meta and Google, where he worked on data center infrastructure. He played a crucial role in overseeing OpenAI’s plans to spend around $600 billion on compute by 2030. An OpenAI spokesperson downplayed Malone’s departure, stating that the company had recently reorganized its infrastructure organization to support its rapid growth.

The statement emphasized that OpenAI has a strong and experienced data center team in place, with clear leadership and technical expertise to execute its plans. However, this reassurance may not be enough to alleviate concerns among investors, particularly as OpenAI prepares for what is expected to be a massive IPO. The company confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June but has yet to announce an official debut date.

OpenAI’s executive departures have been notable this year, with several high-profile exits in recent months. In addition to Malone, revenue chief Denise Dresser left after less than a year on the job, while Brad Lightcap ended his eight-year run at OpenAI to ‘start something new.’ Fidji Simo also announced her departure last month, citing a need to focus on managing a chronic illness.

Four other executives departed in April, sparking surprise among some investors. As OpenAI works to justify its $852 billion valuation ahead of the IPO, these departures have raised questions about the company’s leadership and stability. OpenAI President Greg Brockman downplayed concerns, suggesting that the wave of exits is not unusual given the spotlight on the organization.

Brockman noted that every departure at OpenAI gets scrutinized due to its high profile, but this does little to address growing concerns over AI infrastructure in the US. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has warned that data centers have become a ‘sleeper issue’ for the midterm election cycle, highlighting the mounting backlash against these facilities.

OpenAI’s CFO Sarah Friar told employees in an all-hands meeting this month that the company will be public by 2027, but the executive departures and growing scrutiny over AI infrastructure may pose significant challenges to its success.