OpenAI, backed by Microsoft (MSFT, Financial), is eyeing a serious expansion of its $500 billion Stargate AI project—this time beyond U.S. soil. After kicking off with a $100 billion commitment to build a data center in Abilene, Texas, the team now wants to set up as many as 10 more facilities with friendly nations.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI's vice-president for global affairs, tells the Financial Times these overseas builds will be bankrolled by a mix of governments, sovereign wealth funds, private equity and traditional investors—much like SoftBank (SFTBY, Financial) led the charge stateside. The goal? Offer an alternative to China's AI build-out and spread “democratic AI” values like free speech and open markets. France, the U.K. and Germany have already raised their hands, and whispers are flying about talks in India, Israel, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Lehane also says OpenAI is working with the U.S. government to help “tier two” nations—those with some chip-export restrictions—climb to “tier one” status so they can tap into the latest American-made semiconductors. That's key because cutting-edge AI models need top-tier chips, and without them, you're just tinkering around the edges.
Of course, none of these new deals are inked yet, and OpenAI is staying tight-lipped on financing specifics. But the plan clearly leans on Microsoft's Azure muscle and the U.S.'s AI lead to stitch together a global network of AI hubs. Industry watchers point out that while foreign partnerships could turbocharge AI adoption, each site will need to navigate local regulations, export rules and political sensitivities. Plus, there's the whole data-sovereignty puzzle: who owns and controls the data flowing through these centers?
Why it matters: If OpenAI pulls this off, it won't just be a U.S. play—it'll be a blueprint for how AI infrastructure gets built around the world, blending commercial goals with geopolitical strategy.
Keep an eye on tech summits this summer. When countries start formally green-lighting Stargate projects, you'll know OpenAI is serious about growing its global footprint.
