Trump unveils $500 billion AI Infrastructure project, “Stargate”

President Donald Trump has unveiled “Stargate,” a groundbreaking $500 billion initiative focused on building artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across the United States. Backed by major private investment, the program is set to position the U.S. as a global leader in AI innovation.

Unveiled during a press event on January 21, Trump revealed that OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle are the initial equity investors in the project, with Microsoft and Nvidia contributing as early technology partners. The initiative aims to create “over 100,000 jobs” and boost the economy.

According to the 47th, this initiative is about maintaining AI progress in the United States,” Trump stated. He was standing alongside prominent tech leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son. Trump also described China as a major competitor, highlighting the strategic importance of the project.

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, stated that the first $100 billion of funding would be deployed immediately. Over the next four years, the Stargate program is expected to allocate $400 billion to develop state-of-the-art AI data centers, with the first phase centered at Oracle’s Abilene, Texas, facility.

Ellison, Oracle’s technology chief, emphasizes that Stargate isn’t just about technology. Its applications are set to impact industries like healthcare by enabling advanced management of electronic health records and enhancing overall health planning.

OpenAI announced that Stargate will deepen its collaboration with Microsoft, leveraging Microsoft’s Azure cloud services to power the initiative. Nvidia and Arm are also providing critical technical contributions, ensuring the infrastructure is both robust and cutting-edge.

Beyond industrial and economic goals, Stargate is positioned as a strategic move to safeguard national security. “This project will not only support the re-industrialization of the United States but also provide a strategic capability to protect the national security of America and its allies,” an OpenAI spokesperson stated.

Altman highlighted Stargate’s potential to accelerate the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), describing the initiative as a critical step that will empower humanity to use AI for global progress.

Masayoshi Son added that the project would pave the way for even more advanced AI capabilities, saying, “Artificial Superintelligence will come to solve the issues that mankind would have never thought that we could solve.”

The announcement follows Altman’s earlier vision to raise $7 trillion for chip production and AI development, signaling the growing urgency to secure America’s leadership in this field.

In mid-January, former President Joe Biden authorized an initiative to enhance AI development across America via an Executive Order. This executive order mandates the allocation of Department of Defense and Department of Energy land for the creation of extensive AI data centers and environmentally friendly energy facilities.

The selected locations will prioritize efficient energy transmission and ensure minimal disruption to nearby communities and ecosystems. Private enterprises will be encouraged to build and operate these centers, covering all associated costs. The Department of Energy will collaborate with utility companies to integrate these AI hubs into the national power grid.

The order aims to support smaller enterprises and startups by providing access to parts of this new AI infrastructure.

As the Stargate team assesses additional locations for expansion, the project represents a significant step toward shaping the future of AI innovation while boosting the U.S. economy and fortifying its global influence.