Altman posts Abilene data center video as OpenAI's $500B Stargate adds five new US sites by 2025

OpenAI's $500 Billion Physical Footprint: The Stargate Project Takes Shape

Sam Altman's recent video of a data center under construction in Abilene, Texas, is more than a progress update. It is a clear signal of the massive physical infrastructure being built to support artificial intelligence.

This facility is the first public look at the $500 billion Stargate project. The initiative is a joint effort to construct a network of AI data centers across the United States, with key partners including Oracle and SoftBank.

The Stargate Initiative

Stargate LLC is a $500 billion AI infrastructure venture launched in January 2025. The mission is direct: build the data centers, computing capacity, and power infrastructure required for the next phase of AI.

The project is a joint venture with clear roles. SoftBank handles the financing, while OpenAI leads operational execution, joined by Oracle and MGX. The goal is to complete the build-out by the end of 2025.

Five New Sites, 7 Gigawatts of Power

OpenAI has confirmed five new US data center locations under the Stargate plan. These new sites, combined with the Abilene flagship and other projects, push the initiative's total planned capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts.

This represents an investment of over $400 billion over the next three years. The new locations include:

• Shackelford County, Texas
• Doña Ana County, New Mexico
• A third Midwest site to be announced soon

This expansion puts the project on a path to secure its full $500 billion, 10-gigawatt commitment ahead of schedule.

The Strategy: Compute as the Foundation

Sam Altman stated the strategy plainly: "AI can only fulfill its promise if we build the compute to power it." This project is about removing the primary bottleneck to future AI breakthroughs by building the physical foundation.

For executives in strategy, real estate, and construction, this is a major indicator of future development hotspots. The demand for land, power, and skilled labor in these regions will be immense.

Understanding the technologies and business models driving these investments is critical for positioning your organization to meet these demands. Explore AI courses tailored for specific job roles to stay ahead.