On January 9 (local time), OpenAI and SoftBank jointly announced a significant investment initiative: each company will contribute $500 million to SoftBank’s SB Energy. This investment is earmarked for expanding the data center and power infrastructure required for the ambitious "Stargate Project."

The Stargate Project, backed by a consortium of leading entities including OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, is designed to address the escalating electricity demands driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. As part of this collaborative effort, SB Energy will undertake the construction and management of a sprawling 1.2-gigawatt data center campus in Milam County, Texas.

The initial phase of this cutting-edge facility is anticipated to commence operations in 2026. Once completed, it has the potential to set a new global benchmark as the world’s first zero-carbon, ultra-large-scale AI infrastructure.