On Jan. 21, OpenAI announced the Stargate initiative, a groundbreaking project to develop advanced AI infrastructure in the United States.

Stargate initiative

According to the firm, the project is planning an estimated $500 billion investment over four years, and the organization intends to allocate $100 billion upfront to accelerate its goals.

The project focuses on strengthening US leadership in artificial intelligence, creating new jobs, and contributing to global economic growth. OpenAI also highlights the role Stargate will play in bolstering national security and supporting the re-industrialization of the United States.

Stargate’s development involves a coalition of key players, including SoftBank, Oracle, MGX, and OpenAI. While SoftBank oversees financial aspects, OpenAI manages operations. Major technology partners such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, Oracle, and Arm have joined to provide critical resources for the project. Current construction efforts are centered in Texas, with plans to expand nationwide.

OpenAI’s existing partnerships with Microsoft and NVIDIA, as well as a new collaboration with Oracle, will form the foundation of Stargate’s infrastructure. These alliances aim to provide the computing power necessary to train advanced AI models and drive innovation in artificial intelligence and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

Musk’s skepticism

Despite the project’s ambitious goals, Musk questioned the feasibility of securing the necessary funding.

He pointed out that SoftBank, one of the initiative’s principal backers, has reportedly secured significantly less than $10 billion, according to information he claims to have verified.

Musk stated:

“They don’t actually have the money…SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.”

This skepticism is consistent with Musk’s long-standing criticism of OpenAI. Once a co-founder of the AI giant, Musk parted ways with the organization in 2018.

Since then, he has accused OpenAI of abandoning its original mission to promote AI for public benefit after transitioning to a for-profit model. Musk also alleges that OpenAI’s reliance on Microsoft’s substantial funding since 2019 has compromised its founding principles.

Musk, now the founder of xAI, has also expressed concerns that OpenAI’s dominance could hinder competition in the AI industry.

The post OpenAI to launch new $500 billion AI infrastructure company Stargate appeared first on CryptoSlate.