OpenAI Criticized for Luxe Influencer Retreat Promoting ChatGPT

The two-day event, called “Summer Camp,” took place in upstate New York and included farm-to-table dinners, wellness activities like beekeeping, and workshops on building websites with ChatGPT. Attendees also took part in a painting workshop and learned about using OpenAI's products, according to TechCrunch.

Several influencers who documented the trip on social media received criticism from commenters. One creator was accused of having “sold her soul” for the luxury experience, while others questioned the retreat's alignment with concerns about the energy consumption of AI data centers. Another influencer was sarcastically asked if they would film a “get ready with me” video before touring a data center.

OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri told TechCrunch that the company partners with creators to help people understand practical uses of ChatGPT. He said one goal of the retreat was to introduce creators to ChatGPT Work, which helps users draft documents and presentations. Pusateri described the event as education-focused, designed to give creators hands-on experience so they could demonstrate the tools to their audiences.

“Creators are an important part of our community and how people get information and learn about our products today,” Pusateri said. “We welcome healthy debate as AI becomes more prevalent, and we value creators who choose to engage with us, attend our events, ask tough questions, and learn alongside everyone else. We’ll continue to value them, just as we do traditional media and other marketing partners.”

One critic who left a negative comment told TechCrunch that many Americans have a negative view of AI and that there needs to be a broader conversation about responsible use of the technology. “These posh influencers’ events are, again, giving people ammunition to have negative opinions,” she said. “The world is on fire. It’s not a great time to brag about your $5,000-a-night suite.”

The backlash comes as OpenAI is reportedly set to strike a $500 billion deal to build a data center in Ohio, and as AI companies increasingly face criticism for the socio-ecological impact of data centers. OpenAI is not alone in courting influencers: Anthropic reportedly hosted a brand dinner for Claude, and Microsoft Copilot hosted an influencer trip to the Super Bowl in February, according to the tech newsletter Sarah and Kate.