OpenAI Proposes Large-Scale Data Centers to Support AI Development

OpenAI has proposed the construction of massive data centers in the United States to support the growing demand for artificial intelligence technologies.

According to a Bloomberg report, the company shared a document with the Biden administration outlining plans for data centers requiring up to 5 gigawatts (GW) of power. This is equivalent to the output of five nuclear reactors, or enough energy to supply nearly 3 million homes.

The proposal followed a recent meeting between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and government officials at the White House. The plan includes an economic analysis, suggesting that the data centers would create tens of thousands of jobs and contribute to the U.S. economy. OpenAI stated that such infrastructure is crucial for maintaining the country’s leadership in AI development and ensuring national security. The company also called for policies that would support the creation of a greater data center capacity.

Altman has been working throughout the year to gather support from investors for the physical infrastructure needed for rapid AI advancement. He has also sought government backing for the project, which has not been reported in detail until now. OpenAI’s document did not specify the total number of data centers, though there are plans to begin with a single site, with the potential to expand later on.

Energy industry leaders have expressed doubts on the feasibility of such large-scale projects. Joe Dominguez, CEO of Constellation Energy Corp., mentioned that powering a single 5 GW data center presents challenges. He added that Altman’s vision could involve five to seven centers, each requiring 5 GW of power. Dominguez also indicated that achieving these goals within the necessary timeframe would be difficult due to existing grid delays, supply chain issues, and labor shortages.

The U.S. currently has a total installed capacity of 96 GW of nuclear power. Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, recently signed an agreement with Constellation Energy to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear facility to provide nuclear power to Microsoft for the next two decades. John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy, mentioned that some tech companies have approached them with requests to locate sites capable of supporting 5 GW of energy demand. However, he did not name any specific firms. He noted that building the necessary infrastructure would require a combination of wind, solar, and battery storage.

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