OpenAI has announced a massive investment project to expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure, which includes the creation of the world’s largest network of data centers.
This is reported by Business • Media
- Eight data centers with a total capacity of 900 MW are planned to be built in the United States.
- Within 18 months, the company will increase its total capacity to 7 GW.
- Investments in infrastructure could reach $1 trillion.
Investment Strategy and Project Geography
In Abilene, Texas, OpenAI, in collaboration with Oracle and SoftBank, has begun construction of a large data center, where over six thousand people are currently working daily. Gas turbine towers are being installed on the site, and fiber optic lines are being laid. This is just the beginning of a large program — OpenAI plans to launch five more new sites in the United States soon. The facilities being created in partnership with Oracle will be located in Texas, New Mexico, and the Midwest, with a total capacity of 5.5 GW.
With the support of SoftBank, the company is also building data centers in Ohio and near Austin, which will add another 1.5 GW. As a result, the total capacity of the entire network is expected to reach 7 GW — enough to power approximately eight million households.
Investment Volumes and Economic Impact
It is estimated that one gigawatt of data center capacity costs about $50 billion, which ultimately forms a total budget of $1 trillion. Company management forecasts indicate that the demand for computing power could grow to 100 GW in the future, with investments reaching $5 trillion.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted that the form of financing has not yet been determined, but emphasized the historical significance of the infrastructure being created.
The data centers will be equipped with thousands of Nvidia GB200 graphics processors, each priced comparably to a Tesla Model 3. To prevent corporate espionage, server racks will be equipped with cameras, and access to the facilities will be strictly limited. Construction is expected to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and serve as a stimulus for the “reindustrialization” of the United States.
At the same time, there are mixed opinions among the residents of Abilene regarding the project. Local authorities highlight the advantages in the form of new jobs and tax revenues, but also express concerns about significant energy consumption and the use of water resources. Despite this, the city hopes that participation in the infrastructure project will help establish the region as a leading technology center.
Additionally, it has been reported that Nvidia is investing $100 billion in the development of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.