Big Tech comes to rural Michigan to tout controversial data center
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in Saline Township to announce what is described as the state's largest private investment: a controversial data center. The event highlights a significant tech development in rural Michigan.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer held a press event in Saline Township, Michigan, on June 1, 2026, to announce a new data center. The project is being touted as the largest private investment in the state's history.
The data center development, described as controversial, brings a major technology presence to rural Michigan, specifically south of Ann Arbor. The gathering of top tech executives alongside state leadership underscores the significant economic and political implications of the project.