Stargate: A $500 Billion Plan for AI Data Centers, Computers, and Power

Summary

OpenAI announced Stargate in January 2025. The plan set a $500 billion target over four years. It would fund U.S. AI infrastructure, including data centers and power. OpenAI named itself, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX as funding partners. Nvidia and Microsoft served as technology partners. In April 2026, OpenAI said its planned power capacity topped 10 gigawatts (GW). It did not confirm that all sites had opened.

Introduction

Stargate is a plan for the data centers, computers, power, and network links needed to run AI. OpenAI and its partners announced it in January 2025. The plan aimed to invest $500 billion over four years and said $100 billion would be put to work right away. These were goals in the January 2025 announcement.

What is the Stargate Project?

OpenAI named itself, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX as Stargate’s first funding partners. SoftBank would provide funding, and OpenAI would run the project. The announcement also named Arm, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and OpenAI as technology partners.

President Donald Trump called Stargate “the largest AI infrastructure project in history.” OpenAI said partners would start in Texas and consider more U.S. sites.

Stargate AI data centers

The first announced site was in Abilene, Texas. In January 2026, OpenAI said the site was training and running AI systems. OpenAI said partners were developing more U.S. sites. On April 29, 2026, OpenAI said planned power capacity had passed 10 gigawatts (GW). That was a plan, not operating capacity. It did not confirm that every site was open.

The project needs more than buildings and chips. Data centers also need power, cooling, land, and network links. OpenAI named job creation and U.S. AI capacity as goals. Actual results depend on how partners build and run each site.

What Stargate Could Mean for Business Owners

More AI data centers could give businesses access to new tools. Providers set prices and access rules. Test a small task, then compare its cost with the result.

Data centers may create jobs in construction, energy, and equipment. Each site’s schedule affects local hiring. Wait for an operator to confirm a role or contract before planning around a job.

Questions about Stargate

What is the Stargate Project?

Stargate is a U.S. plan for data centers, computers, power, and network links for AI. OpenAI announced it on January 21, 2025. The plan set a $500 billion investment goal over four years, including $100 billion to start. OpenAI named SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX as funding partners. OpenAI was also a funder.

Where is OpenAI building Stargate data centers?

The first announced site is in Abilene, Texas. In January 2026, OpenAI said it was developing more U.S. sites. In April, OpenAI said planned capacity had passed 10 gigawatts (GW). That figure covered planned capacity. The company said the Abilene site was training and running AI systems.

How much will Stargate invest at first?

In January 2025, OpenAI set a $500 billion investment goal over four years, with $100 billion to start. Both amounts were plans, not confirmed spending.