
President Donald Trump unveiled a major investment plan for AI infrastructure during a meeting at the White House alongside top executives from SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI. This new venture, Stargate, is set to allocate up to $500 billion for building data centers and energy facilities in Texas to support the advancement of artificial intelligence. The CEOs involved, including Masayoshi Son, Sam Altman, and Larry Ellison, emphasized their support for Trump and the significance of the project in boosting America's potential.
Trump highlighted the substantial investment and quality of individuals involved in Stargate, lauding it as a strong vote of confidence in the country's future under his leadership. OpenAI's Altman expressed his belief that the project would be groundbreaking, while Oracle's Ellison hinted at the potential for leveraging this infrastructure for healthcare advancements like personalized vaccines. SoftBank's Son, who had previously committed billions to U.S. projects, echoed Trump's optimism about entering a "golden age" with these initiatives.
The development of Stargate has roots that trace back to the Biden administration, with plans originally surfacing in 2024. The project has attracted additional partners, including Microsoft, investor MGX, and chipmakers such as Arm and NVIDIA, expanding its reach beyond the initial trio of companies. The push for data center expansion is not a new concept, with projections indicating significant capital influx into this sector, aligning with the broader trend of escalating investments in AI infrastructure globally.
The White House's focus on streamlining electricity generation for AI growth reflects the competitive landscape, particularly against countries like China. However, the regulatory landscape for AI technologies remains uncertain, with recent policy shifts such as Trump's decision to overturn Biden's safety standards order creating some ambiguity around future governance. Despite this, the commitment to AI infrastructure investment underscores the strategic importance placed on technological advancement in the U.S. economy.