OpenAI, backed by tech giants Oracle and SoftBank, is considering building data center “campuses” in 16 states with indicated interest. The project, part of Stargate, aims to re-industrialize parts of the country while boosting US artificial intelligence infrastructure.
According to OpenAI’s vice president Chris Lehane, a project of this size represents an opportunity to revitalize areas and drive the growth of AI in the US. The company plans to invest billions, with initial investment expected at $100 billion over four years.
The 16 states under consideration are Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Construction on one site in Abilene, Texas, is underway, with plans to announce more sites soon.
Each campus will support around one gigawatt of power or more, with the company aiming for five to 10 campuses in total. OpenAI expects each data center campus to generate thousands of jobs.
However, concerns over environmental impact are growing. Large-scale data centers consume significantly more energy per square foot than average commercial office buildings and account for a small but significant portion of US electricity use.
The pressure to advance AI in the US is increasing due to China’s rapid development in this field. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has praised a Chinese startup lab, citing its powerful model as “clearly a great model.” This highlights the urgency to boost US AI capabilities and compete with other countries.
OpenAI plans to partner with utilities and explore alternative power generation methods to minimize environmental impact. The company’s aim is to re-industrialize parts of the country while driving the growth of AI in the US.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/06/openai-looking-at-16-states-for-data-center-campuses-tied-to-stargate.html