OpenAI to Build Additional Data Centers in 15 States Including Texas

OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, plans to build additional data centers in about 15 states including Texas, Bloomberg reported on the 6th (local time).

Last month on the 21st, OpenAI announced the establishment of a joint venture called "Stargate" with SoftBank and Oracle, investing over $500 billion to build AI infrastructure. The first data center of Stargate is expected to be built in Abilene, a small city in Texas, covering an area of 875 acres (3.54 km²), roughly the size of New York's Central Park. Chris Lehane, Vice President of Global Affairs at OpenAI, said Texas will play a leading role in the new infrastructure.

Sam Altman, CEO and founder of OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, is attending the 'Kakao Media Day' held at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 4th, having a conversation with Jeong Sin-ah, CEO of Kakao. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Bloomberg reported that in addition to Abilene, site selection for additional data centers is underway in other parts of Texas, and OpenAI is evaluating potential sites in 15 states including these. To this end, OpenAI and SoftBank officials visited Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Oregon this week.

Each data center project is expected to consume about 1GW of power, similar to the output of a nuclear power plant. This amount of electricity is equivalent to what 750,000 to 1 million households use. However, Bloomberg noted that specific details have not yet been finalized.

Vice President Lehane stated, "There is tremendous interest across the U.S. in attracting the Stargate project," adding, "To accelerate the site selection process, we began publicly accepting proposals starting last week." State governments expect OpenAI’s data centers to build AI hubs that will provide new opportunities for startups, developers, and other related personnel.

OpenAI is also soliciting bids from architectural and engineering firms to design the AI data centers. According to OpenAI’s request for proposals, key factors considered include energy sources, water accessibility, potential for future power expansion, and ease of construction logistics.

The company said it will announce detailed information regarding site selection this spring.