On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced what he described as “the largest AI infrastructure project in history,” a monumental initiative dubbed Stargate. This ambitious venture, involving prominent tech giants OpenAI, Oracle, and Japan's SoftBank, aims to funnel up to $500 billion into developing artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States.

The initiative began with an initial investment of $100 billion, with plans to expand significantly over the next four years. Trump emphasized the project's potential to create over 100,000 American jobs almost immediately, framing it as a strategic maneuver to maintain U.S. leadership in AI amidst competition from China and other nations. "What we want to do is we want to keep it in this country," Trump stated during the announcement held at the White House, where he was flanked by key executives including SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI's Sam Altman.

Altman, who will oversee day-to-day operations of Stargate, referred to the project as “the most important project of this era,” echoing sentiments shared by other industry leaders present at the event. Oracle's Larry Ellison announced that ten data centers are already under construction in Texas, with additional sites being evaluated across the country.

Trump assured that the White House would take the necessary steps to expedite the project through emergency declarations related to energy production, stating, “They have to produce a lot of electricity, and we’ll make it possible for them to get that production done very easily at their own plants.” The venture also encompasses a range of technology partners, including Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Arm, among others.

This announcement follows the reversal of an executive order by former President Biden concerning AI safety standards, indicating a significant policy shift towards deregulation in the sector. Trump claimed that this initiative would ensure the future of U.S. technology, reinforcing national security and fostering economic growth.

Overall, with a projected $1 trillion in U.S. data center investments anticipated over the next five years, the Stargate initiative represents a critical step towards re-industrializing the nation while strengthening its competitive stance in the global AI race.

For more details, read the article on AP News.