OpenAI, the influential company behind the famous artificial intelligence ChatGPT, is taking clear steps towards the creation of a monumental infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI). Under the leadership of Sam Altman, the company is developing an ambitious project to build data megacenters that could cost more than 10 billion dollars. This initiative aims to ensure the national security of the United States, while also advancing technological progress in the field of AI.
Since early 2024, Altman has been working to form a coalition of investors, companies, and political figures to support this monumental investment. Negotiations with potential contributors, including countries like Canada, South Korea, Japan, and the United States, are underway. Despite the strong previous collaboration with Microsoft, the company’s participation in this project is still unconfirmed.
OpenAI’s proposal includes the construction of new data centers, power plants —possibly nuclear power plants— and chip factories (FAB), which are essential for the development and execution of large-scale AI systems. With the growing demand for computational resources, the need for energy and chips has become a critical challenge. Furthermore, semiconductor production requires large amounts of water, further complicating the project.
One related project is Microsoft’s Stargate, announced earlier in the year. This supercomputer, expected to cost over 100 billion dollars, is designed to meet the advanced computational needs of AI. With this project, Microsoft aims to position itself at the forefront of global AI infrastructure, surpassing even Google and OpenAI.
North Dakota: The Future of AI Infrastructure
As major tech companies, such as Amazon, NVIDIA, and Apple, seek locations for their data centers, North Dakota has emerged as a prominent candidate. The state, known for its surplus of energy, presents itself as an ideal solution to meet the growing energy demands of these massive infrastructures.
Although OpenAI has not yet revealed specific details about the location of its megadata centers, the interest in North Dakota highlights the need for robust infrastructure for AI development. The company has emphasized that this expansion is crucial not only for technological progress, but also to maintain the national security of the United States in the face of authoritarian regimes that are also investing in AI.
In a recent article published in the Washington Post, Sam Altman emphasized the importance of collaboration between the private sector and policymakers to implement the necessary infrastructure. Altman argues that these investments are essential for the United States to continue leading global technological development and to protect its position in a rapidly evolving field.
With this initiative, OpenAI is not only betting on the future of artificial intelligence, but also on the security and technological leadership of the United States in an increasingly competitive international landscape.