OpenAI has launched an ambitious project to create the world’s largest network of data centers that will provide the necessary power for artificial intelligence.
This is reported by Finway
Massive Expansion of Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure
OpenAI has unveiled plans to expand its infrastructure, announcing the construction of a network of data centers with a total investment that could reach $1 trillion. The demonstration of the first phase of the project took place in Abilene, Texas, where a large facility is being built with the support of Oracle and SoftBank.
The first phase of construction involves the launch of eight data centers with a total capacity of about 900 MW. More than six thousand workers are participating in the construction of the facility, where gas turbine towers are being erected and fiber optic lines are being laid.
According to OpenAI executives, this is just the beginning: to meet the rapidly growing demand for ChatGPT, which is used by over 700 million people weekly, dozens of gigawatts of computing power will be needed in the future.
New Sites and Economic Impact
In the next 18 months, the company plans to open five new sites in the United States. In partnership with Oracle, new facilities will be built in Texas, New Mexico, and the Midwest with a combined capacity of 5.5 GW. Additionally, in collaboration with SoftBank, OpenAI will construct centers in Ohio and near Austin, adding another 1.5 GW of capacity. Thus, the total energy supply of the new centers will reach 7 GW, equivalent to powering approximately eight million households.
The cost of one gigawatt of infrastructure is about $50 billion, which means total investments of at least $1 trillion. Company management forecasts indicate that the demand for capacity could rise to 100 GW in the future, requiring investments of up to $5 trillion.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted that the form of financing has yet to be determined, but emphasized the historical significance of the project for the technology sector of society.
OpenAI’s data centers are equipped with thousands of Nvidia GB200 graphics processors, each of which is compared to the price of a Tesla Model 3. Access to the facilities is strictly limited, and server racks are equipped with cameras to counter corporate espionage. According to project supporters, the large-scale construction will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and serve as a powerful driver of “reindustrialization” in the U.S.
At the same time, not all residents of Abilene share optimism about the project. Local authorities note both the advantages of new jobs and increased tax revenues, as well as concerns about increased energy and water consumption. Despite this, the city hopes that participation in the large-scale infrastructure project will help strengthen the region’s status as a technology hub.