Transparency in Data Center Deals
Amazon has announced it will no longer use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when negotiating data center deals with local governments, mirroring a similar policy change by Microsoft earlier this year. This shift comes in response to significant community backlash against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, which has led to hundreds of proposed and enacted moratoriums on data center construction from New York to San Francisco. The secrecy surrounding these deals has often fueled public opposition, highlighting the need for greater transparency in the development of AI-supporting facilities. Meanwhile, a growing number of startups are developing personal AI agents, betting that consumers will grant them access to sensitive information like inboxes, files, and credit cards, provided these agents can securely integrate with existing online services.
On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Anthony Ha, Sean O’Kane, and Rebecca Bellan dig into whether ditching NDAs will change how data center deals get done, why trust may be the real product for personal AI startups, plus a couple of deals of the week.
