Nvidia announced it will provide credit and computing resources for a new artificial intelligence data center for OpenAI in Ohio, starting with an initial capacity of 4.25 gigawatts and an option for an additional 3.75 gigawatts, expected to come online in phases by 2028. SB Energy will construct and manage the facility under a 20-year lease to OpenAI, which has a stake in SB Energy.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the importance of securing long-term infrastructure for AI development, allowing OpenAI to create advanced AI factories. Reports indicate Nvidia was initially negotiating a $250 billion backstop for OpenAI but has since reduced this to less than $120 billion.
This deal is part of Nvidia's broader strategy to support AI data center expansion, which has raised concerns about potential circular financing within the industry. Additionally, SB Energy and SoftBank will invest at least $4.2 billion in regional grid infrastructure to support the data center's energy needs.
OpenAI anticipates that the new facility will create 35,000 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent positions by 2032, further underscoring the critical role of computing resources in the AI landscape, as noted by OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who referred to compute as the 'new oil' of the AI age