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US tech giants announce AI plan worth up to $500bn Tech giants announce $500bn 'Stargate' AI plan in US
(about 4 hours later)
OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank form joint venture to build artificial intelligence infrastructure Donald Trump announced the project with the bosses of OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank
OpenAI is teaming up with Oracle and Softbank to build data centres equipped to power artificial intelligence (AI), with plans to invest $100bn (£81bn) "immediately". The creator of ChatGPT, OpenAI, is teaming up with another US tech giant, a Japanese bank and an Emirati sovereign wealth fund to build $500bn (£405bn) of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States.
Flanked by the bosses of the three companies at the White House, US President Donald Trump said the plan is a "resounding declaration of confidence in America's potential". The venture, called Stargate, was announced at the White House by President Trump who billed it "the largest AI infrastructure project by far in history."
OpenAI has previously called for major investments in infrastructure to support AI and pushed for government support of those plans. The project, which began before Trump took office, announced $100bn of funding was being made available immediately, with the rest to come over four years, creating an estimated 100,000 jobs.
The ChatGPT-creator and Softbank said the joint venture, dubbed Stargate, intends to invest $500bn over the next four years. It is a partnership between OpenAI, Oracle, Japan's Softbank and MGX, a tech investment arm of the United Arab Emirates government.
"I think this will be the most important project of this era," said OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman. The AI industry has exploded in recent years, creating massive extra demand for the data centres which it relies on, while also raising concerns about the huge amounts of water and power such facilities require.
'Most important project of this era'
The US is already the world leader in AI investment, vastly outspending, external any other country.
However Trump insisted he needed to intervene to help the industry.
"I'm going to help a lot through emergency declarations because we have an emergency," said Donald Trump, stressing the importance of keeping AI in the US.
Trump said his government would "make it possible for them to get that production done very easily."
"I think this will be the most important project of this era," said OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, who stood alongside Trump as he made the announcement.
"We wouldn't be able to do this without you, Mr President," he added, crediting Trump despite work on the project already being under way."We wouldn't be able to do this without you, Mr President," he added, crediting Trump despite work on the project already being under way.
The plan, which involves the construction of AI infrastructure such as data centres, is expected to create more than 100,000 jobs, according to Trump. Oracle's chief technology office, Larry Ellison, said the first data centre was under construction in Texas and more would be built in other locations in the US.
Oracle's chief technology office, Larry Ellison, said the first data centres are under construction in Texas and more will be built in other locations. The Information, a technology news website, first reported on the project, external in March last year.
The Information, a technology news website, first reported on the project in March last year. OpenAI said the announcement was the culmination of more than a year's worth of conversations.
OpenAI said the announcement of the new company, which also includes UAE-backed investor MGX, was the culmination of more than a year's worth of conversations. Other technology partners include British chipmaker Arm, US chipmaker Nvidia and Microsoft, which already has a partnership with OpenAI.
Other partners in the project include tech giants Microsoft, Arm and NVIDIA, according to statements by Softbank and OpenAI. Mushrooming demand
The project is the latest in a series of large investments into data centres by the US tech industry.
OpenAI kicked off the AI race in 2022 with the launch of its ChatGPT bot, which offered lifelike responses to questions and showcased the rapid advances in the technology.
It has prompted a gush of investment, including in the specialised data centres needed to power the computing.
But the projected surge in demand for the centres, which will require huge amounts of power to run and money to be built, has raised concerns about the impact on energy supplies and questions about the role of foreign investors.
In one of his final acts in the White House, former President Joe Biden put forward rules that would restrict exports of AI-related chips to dozens of countries around the world, saying the move would help the US control the industry.
He also issued orders related to the development of data centres on government land, which spotlighted a role for clean energy in powering the centres.
The latest investment plans are not unusual in the context of the industry.
Microsoft, one of the OpenAI's major backers, said earlier this month it was on track to invest $80bn to build out AI-powered data centres, external this year.Microsoft, one of the OpenAI's major backers, said earlier this month it was on track to invest $80bn to build out AI-powered data centres, external this year.
It is also involved in a $100bn venture that includes BlackRock , externaland is focused on making AI data centre investments. It is also involved in a $100bn venture that includes BlackRock and MGX, external and is focused on making AI data centre investments.
Amazon has been pouring money into the space at a similar scale, announcing two, external projects, external worth about $10bn each just in the last two months. Amazon has been pouring money into the space at a similar scale, announcing two, external projects, external worth about $10bn each in just the last two months.
In a report last year, external, McKinsey said that global demand for data centre capacity would more than triple by 2030, growing between 19% and 27% annually by 2030.In a report last year, external, McKinsey said that global demand for data centre capacity would more than triple by 2030, growing between 19% and 27% annually by 2030.
For developers to meet that demand, the consultancy estimated that at least twice the capacity would have to be built by 2030 as has been constructed since 2000.For developers to meet that demand, the consultancy estimated that at least twice the capacity would have to be built by 2030 as has been constructed since 2000.
But analysts have warned that the process is likely to be bogged down by issues such as power and land constraints and permitting.But analysts have warned that the process is likely to be bogged down by issues such as power and land constraints and permitting.
The surge in demand for the centres also raised concerns about the impact on energy supplies and questions about the role of foreign investors.
In one of his final acts in the White House, former President Joe Biden put forward rules that would restrict exports of AI-related chips to dozens of countries around the world, saying the move would help the US control the industry.
He also issued orders related to the development of data centres on government land, which spotlighted a role for clean energy in powering the centres.
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