OpenAI Seeks U.S. Locations for New AI Data Centers

OpenAI is actively looking for sites across the United States to establish a network of large data centers designed to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities. This expansion goes beyond its primary location in Texas, as the company explores opportunities in 16 different states to drive the Stargate project, a collaboration supported by former President Donald Trump.

The organization behind ChatGPT has issued a call for proposals that includes requirements for land, electricity, engineers, and architects. Recently, they began site visits in states such as Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The Stargate initiative was promoted by Trump shortly after his return to the White House in the previous month. This venture is a joint effort involving OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank, with projected investments starting at $100 billion, potentially reaching up to $500 billion. The aim is to create large-scale data centers and the necessary energy infrastructure to expand AI technology further. Trump referred to this initiative as a "strong indication of faith in America's capabilities" under his administration, although the data center project in Abilene, Texas, has been in construction for several months.

Elon Musk, an advisor to Trump and a notable competitor to OpenAI, has expressed skepticism about the efficacy of Stargate's proposed investments.

Following Trump's announcement, various states have approached OpenAI expressing interest in hosting additional data centers, as revealed by Chris Lehane, OpenAI's vice president of global affairs, during a press briefing.

The request for proposals stipulates that potential sites must be near necessary infrastructures like power and water supplies. The data needs of AI technology demand significant energy consumption, primarily derived from fossil fuels, which contributes to climate change. Additionally, data centers typically require large quantities of water for cooling purposes.

Although OpenAI's proposal does not specifically prioritize renewable energy sources such as wind or solar energy, it does ask that prospective electricity suppliers have plans in place to address carbon emissions and water usage concerns. The Texas project is situated in a region noted by Abilene's mayor for its richness in diverse energy resources, including wind, solar, and gas.

Keith Heyde, who oversees OpenAI's infrastructure strategy, stated, "We are considering some sites where we aim to facilitate new power generation, whether from new gas operations or alternative methods."

In addition to Texas, the other states under consideration include Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Heyde mentioned that OpenAI intends to establish "somewhere between five to ten" campuses in total, depending on the size of each facility.

OpenAI, Stargate, DataCenters