President Trump on Tuesday announced a joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle to build at least $100 billion in computing infrastructure to power artificial intelligence.
The venture, called Stargate, adds to tech companies’ significant investments in US data centers, huge buildings filled with servers that provide computing power. Stargate could eventually invest as much as $500 billion over four years. The three companies plan to contribute capital to the venture, which will be open to other investors and will start with 10 data centers already under construction in Texas.
The joint venture announcement was an early trophy for Mr. Trump, even though the effort to set up the venture predated his inauguration on Monday. Mr. Trump has vowed to accelerate the production of American artificial intelligence to compete with China for global leadership in the technology, and on Monday withdrew an executive order from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. imposing security standards and other requirements for government use of artificial intelligence
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Trump said he would remove barriers to allow more data centers to be built. He said he would make “emergency declarations” to allow the Stargate to generate its own electricity, without elaborating.
“This monumental undertaking is a resounding statement of confidence in America’s capabilities,” said Mr. Trump from the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
“We will make it as easy as possible,” he added.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son. and Oracle founder Larry Ellison was at the White House announcement with Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump separately fielded questions from reporters about the potential sale of TikTok. On Monday, he signed an executive order that aims to stop enforcement of a law that mandates the sale or bans the popular app in the United States on national security grounds.
When asked if he would be in favor Elon Musk buying TikTok, Mr. Trump said: “I would be, yes.” He then turned to Mr. Ellison and said that Oracle could also buy TikTok.
“I have the right to make a deal,” added Mr. Trump.
Tech executives were quick to show their support for Mr. Trump in recent months in hopes of currying favor and shielding themselves from regulatory retaliation. They have donated millions to his campaign and inauguration. Mr. Altman attended the opening, and the heads of Google, Apple and Meta took prime seats in the Capitol Rotunda.
Mr. Trump has touted the promise of artificial intelligence for economic growth and appointed venture capitalist David Sachs to a new post as his AI adviser.
OpenAI has long been working to fund its ambitious goals of building data center campuses around the world. This month, the company unveiled a financial roadmap for the new administration that focused on a large-scale plan for US data centers used to power artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT.
For years, Microsoft, which is OpenAI’s largest investor, provided data center infrastructure needed to power the startup. But as maker ChatGPT struggled to get enough computing power from Microsoft, the two companies agreed that OpenAI could seek additional data centers built by Oracle.
(The New York Times sued OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, alleging that they infringe copyright on news content related to artificial intelligence systems. The two companies have denied the suit’s allegations.)
Last year, Mr. Altman began meeting with investors in the United Arab Emirates, computer chip makers in Asia, and officials in Washington, D.C., proposing that they team up to build new computer chip factories and data centers around the world.
After officials in Washington expressed concern that an American company was trying to build vital technology in the Middle East, OpenAI focused on building new data centers in the United States.
