US President Donald Trump has unveiled a massive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure initiative, the “Stargate Project,” with an investment of up to $500 billion over the next four years. This ambitious project is a collaboration between OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, with additional IT giants expected to join.
The Stargate Project aims to create a vast network of data centers across the United States, starting in Texas, to support AI development and applications. An initial investment of $100 billion will be allocated immediately, with the goal of generating over 100,000 jobs.
Key figures at the White House announcement included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who highlighted the project’s potential to drive AI capabilities, including early disease detection and personalized medical treatments. The initiative is also viewed as a strategic move to strengthen US competitiveness in AI technology, especially in response to China’s advancements.
Microsoft, Nvidia, and Arm are expected to join the venture, with OpenAI emphasizing their ongoing collaborations with Oracle and Nvidia, dating back to 2016. OpenAI will also continue its partnership with Microsoft, expanding its use of Azure for training AI models and delivering innovative products and services.
However, concerns about the sustainability of the project have been raised, particularly regarding the energy-intensive nature of AI infrastructure. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) warns that the rapid growth of data centers may place strain on local power grids. Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, who advocated for clean energy in tech projects, Trump is expected to prioritize fossil fuel production, aligning with his “drill, baby, drill” policy and signaling a shift away from renewable energy subsidies.
