• President Trump announced a $500 billion private-sector investment in AI infrastructure, led by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle’s “Stargate” project.
• The initiative includes 20 data centers, and over 100,000 jobs, and aims to position the U.S. as a global leader in AI technology and innovation.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a private-sector investment of up to $500 billion aimed at building infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI), with the goal of securing the nation’s competitive edge in the critical technology sector. The initiative, led by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle under the name “Stargate,” is expected to create over 100,000 jobs and establish 20 data centers across the United States.

The companies involved, alongside other equity backers, have pledged $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remainder to follow over the next four years. At a White House press conference, Trump was joined by key executives, including SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, who emphasized the project’s transformative potential.

Ellison detailed the plan, noting that the first data centers are already under construction in Texas. Each facility, measuring half a million square feet, is designed to support advanced AI applications such as analyzing electronic health records to improve patient care.

“The project could power AI that helps doctors care for their patients,” Ellison said.

Altman underscored the role of government support in the initiative. “For AGI to get built here, we wouldn’t be able to do this without you, Mr. President,” he stated, referring to artificial general intelligence, a more advanced form of AI.

The announcement, made during Trump’s second day in office, coincides with the reversal of a Biden-era executive order that aimed to mitigate risks associated with AI. Trump highlighted the energy demands of AI infrastructure and promised to streamline power production for data centers.

However, concerns persist about the strain on the U.S. power grid. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation warned in December that rising power consumption from AI data centers and other sectors could increase the risk of energy shortages in half the country within the next decade.

Editorial Note: This news article has been written with assistance from AI. Edited & fact-checked by Harshajit Sarmah.