SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said the company's success in Effingham County will depend on more than building a data center. It will depend on whether residents believe OpenAI is listening to their concerns, following through on its commitments and becoming a good neighbor.

“Trust is earned over long periods of time,” Friar said during an interview backstage at the Mars Theatre with the Effingham Herald and Frank Sulkowski of WJCL 22 News. “You don't just show up and get it.”

Friar was in Effingham County Thursday for the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce's “Future Shock: Catalyst Business Summit,” a full-day event at the Mars Theatre in downtown Springfield exploring changes reshaping business, the workforce and leadership. The summit was also sponsored by the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, Between Two Rivers, Hospice Savannah, the Mars Theatre, Medlog Transport & Logistics and MAU Workforce Solutions.

During the interview, Friar discussed OpenAI's proposed 1,400-acre Project Camellia data center, the company's $80 million community investment commitment, concerns about the development's potential effects and the jobs it could bring to the area.

Investing in the community

OpenAI has committed $80 million to community investments in connection with its proposed data center in Effingham County. Friar said the company wants to hear directly from residents about their needs rather than arrive with its own ideas about what the community should want.

“I don't like to ever show up and tell people what they need,” she said. “That is a surefire way to not make friends. Instead, you show up and ask, ‘What would they like? What do they need?’”

The company's investments include a $4.8 million grant for school meals and a newly announced $2 million grant to help fund trails at Atlas Park, a planned recreation destination near Highway 80 and Sand Hill Road. OpenAI also covered the $109 registration fee for all summit participants.

Friar joined county officials at Atlas Park on Thursday to announce the grant. The money will help fund trails in the first phase of park improvements supported by the county's 2022 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program.

“It's beautiful,” Friar said of Atlas Park. “I'm a big hiker by nature, so I want to go hiking out there.”

Plans for Atlas Park include walking and biking trails, pickleball courts, boat docks and RV camping areas.

Friar said participation in the school meal initiative has increased by nearly 50% since OpenAI began funding the program.

“You want to make sure kids are eating well and eating consistently when they go to school?” she said.

Addressing concerns about Project Camellia

Friar acknowledged residents' concerns about the proposed data center's potential effects on electricity demand, water use, noise and the environment. She said OpenAI has taken time to listen to those concerns rather than move ahead without engaging the community.

She compared the situation to building a swimming pool in a backyard without telling the neighbors.

“If you show up and try to build a pool in your backyard and don't tell your neighbors, you're not going to make many friends,” Friar said.

She said OpenAI intends to pay its own energy costs and use closed-loop cooling systems at its planned data centers. According to Friar, water for the facility would be delivered by truck rather than drawn from local residents' supplies, and the cooling system would lose very little water annually.

To address noise concerns, she said the company is conducting surveys and plans to establish a substantial vegetation buffer around the facility.

Those are OpenAI's stated plans. The project's eventual resource demands and environmental effects remain questions as Project Camellia advances.

Friar said earning the community's trust will require more than outlining plans. The company must show that it follows through on its commitments and responds to residents' concerns.

“I think a lot of it is how the community is grading us,” she said. “Like, is the community happy or unhappy with how we've shown up?”

She said OpenAI intends to maintain a local team and remain engaged with Effingham County over the long term.

“This is not some flyby where we come in and then we're gone tomorrow,” Friar said. “It will only work if we are invested in the community and are good neighbors to the community.”

Jobs and economic opportunity

Friar estimated the data center would support 400 to 500 jobs, in addition to construction jobs and other skilled-trades work associated with building the facility.

She also pointed to opportunities artificial intelligence could create beyond the data center, particularly in health care, education and small businesses.

AI tools can help people find information, support teachers and assist business owners with tasks ranging from marketing to finances, she said. For small-business owners juggling multiple responsibilities, Friar described ChatGPT as a virtual co-worker that can provide assistance throughout the day.

A message to residents

Asked what she would tell residents who remain uncertain about artificial intelligence or OpenAI's proposed development, Friar encouraged them to ask questions and learn more about the technology.

“We need to sell inspiration and hope and excitement about the future,” she said.

Her advice to those still on the fence was simple.

“Be curious,” Friar said. “Like, if you don't know, come ask.”

She encouraged residents to seek information about Project Camellia and bring their questions directly to OpenAI as the project moves forward.

Summit brings business and tech leaders to Springfield

“Future Shock: Catalyst Business Summit” brought business leaders, educators, creative professionals and community advocates to downtown Springfield for discussions about innovation, leadership, inclusion and the future of work.

The program featured a series of Future Shock Think Talks from speakers with different professional backgrounds. Geoff Thatcher, founder and chief creative officer of Savannah-based Creative Principals, drew on his experience designing visitor experiences, museums and theme parks, as well as his work as an author. Dr. Ryan Foley, president of Savannah Technical College, brought a perspective shaped by higher education and workforce development.

Ivory Brown, Ed.S., an adaptive special education teacher and former Effingham County Schools District Teacher of the Year, has focused her career on inclusive education and creating opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Karima Burdette, an author and speaker whose work centers on personal transformation and encouragement, and Joe Marchese, a commercial construction professional and co-founder of the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society, also shared perspectives on purpose, belonging and inclusion.

John T. Brantley, author of “The Auxin Leader,” presented “The Evolution of Leadership.” OpenAI trainers also led hands-on ChatGPT training, giving attendees an opportunity to explore the technology.

Friar closed the summit with a fireside chat, giving attendees the opportunity to hear directly from a senior executive at one of the world's most prominent artificial intelligence companies.