OpenAI, the creator of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, has announced plans to lease a massive new data center in Ohio for 20 years. This ambitious project, backed by a $105 billion financing commitment from tech giant Nvidia, aims to build the largest single data center for artificial intelligence in the world. The data center will be constructed on the site of a former Cold War-era uranium enrichment plant and is expected to have a capacity of 8 gigawatts, eventually growing to serve millions of users.
The data center will exclusively use Nvidia chips, reflecting the strong partnership between the two companies. SoftBank and SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank, will invest over $4 billion into local energy infrastructure, building at least 10 GW of new energy generation to power the data center. Additionally, Nvidia will invest $1.5 billion into SB Energy, addressing concerns about circular financing in the AI sector.
OpenAI has committed $40 million to support local priorities, aiming to mitigate growing hostility towards data centers due to their high energy and water consumption. The project is expected to create 35,000 temporary construction jobs over six years and 2,500 long-term operating jobs. OpenAI and SB Energy assure that they will cover the data center's energy and infrastructure costs without passing them on to local residents.
The initial phase of the data center will have 4.25 GW of capacity, with the possibility of adding an additional 3.75 GW. For context, a nuclear power plant typically provides around 1 GW of energy, and the entire city of San Francisco consumed just over 5 GW of energy in 2024. This project is part of a larger initiative, Stargate, a $500 billion, multiyear data center project announced last year by OpenAI, Nvidia, SoftBank, and other partners, aiming to build out 10 GW of capacity across multiple sites, with half of that in the UAE.
The significance of this project extends beyond just technological advancement. It represents a major investment in the future of AI, with implications for job creation, energy consumption, and the ongoing debate about the environmental impact of data centers. As AI continues to grow, such infrastructure will be crucial in supporting the demands of this rapidly evolving field.
