OpenAI is poised to build a 5-gigawatt data center campus in Abu Dhabi, which may develop into one of the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure projects worldwide. The facility is anticipated to span roughly 10 square miles and consume energy equivalent to five nuclear reactors, exceeding previous AI infrastructure endeavors by OpenAI and its competitors. This initiative, larger than the city-sate of Monaco, is a collaboration with G42, an Abu Dhabi-based technology conglomerate, forming part of OpenAI’s ambitious Stargate project. Announced in January, this venture involves OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle in constructing expansive data centers globally, equipped with leading-edge computer chips to advance AI development.
The Abu Dhabi facility will surpass OpenAI’s first Stargate campus, which is currently under construction in Abilene, Texas, with a projected capacity of 1.2 gigawatts. The Abu Dhabi development involves AI collaborations between the U.S. and UAE, generating security concerns among certain lawmakers. OpenAI’s partnership with G42 commenced in 2023, aiming to promote AI adoption in the region, and during an earlier conference in Abu Dhabi, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised the UAE’s early commitment to AI.
Nevertheless, the dynamics within the AI sector are intricate and changing, as G42, established in 2018 and chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has elicited concerns from U.S. officials due to its associations with sanctioned entities such as Huawei and its connections to individuals linked to Chinese intelligence. In response to U.S. lawmakers’ apprehensions, G42’s CEO announced in early 2024 the company’s shift in strategy by reallocating prior investments in China. Shortly after, Microsoft, a principal investor in OpenAI with interests in the region, revealed a $1.5 billion investment in G42, with Microsoft’s president joining the G42 board of directors.
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