New Delhi: In response to the ramp up in AI computing power needed to power its AI services, OpenAI is working to lease a large new AI data centre in the United States for 20 years. The work will primarily be carried out in Pike County, OH and be heavily funded by Nvidia.
SB Energy, which is backed by SoftBank is developing the data centre, dubbed the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus. According to the deal, SB Energy will construct, own and maintain the facility from which the computing power will be sold, with OpenAI as its primary customer and leasing the computing power for 20 years.
Ultimately, the facility may be able to handle 8 gigawatts (GW) of computing power, placing it amongst the biggest AI data centres globally. The first 800 MWs of the capacity should be available by 2028. The massive computing power will enable OpenAI to operate and advance its AI models and services to even greater heights.
Nvidia has a big investment in the project. The chipmaker has signed up to guarantees of up to $105 billion that will support the data centre project. Nvidia will also make an investment of approximately $1.5 billion in SB Energy. Additionally, Nvidia is said to be the sole provider of AI computing equipment that will be installed at the facility.
The project also is projected to provide economic advantages to Ohio. The construction of the project would generate approximately 35,000 jobs and the finished plant would generate approximately 2,500 permanent jobs, according to the reports. The project will also require major investments in electricity generation and power-grid infrastructure to meet the centre’s huge energy needs.
The data centre will be built on a former Cold War-era uranium enrichment site. It’s part of a larger initiative to realize the reuse of large industrial locations in the United States for new energy and technology schemes. The plant is expected to rely on both new power generation capacity, and upgrades to existing electrical grid.
OpenAI says the agreement underscores its increasing collaboration with Nvidia, as the need for AI computing grows. OpenAI requires considerable computing power and Nvidia is seeking to assure longer sales of its AI chips.
But the size of the deal has also allowed for questions regarding financial-risk in AI infrastructure projects. Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang denies it is a round robin financing model, stating that the support will enable companies to develop beneficial infrastructure for AI.
The Ohio project could be a significant aspect of OpenAI’s future goals and help reinforce the U.S. presence in the international AI race, with the first of two facilities slated for completion in 2028.
