OpenAI is making big moves in the world of artificial intelligence. On September 23, 2025, the company’s CEO, Sam Altman, showed off the huge Stargate AI data center in Abilene, Texas. This project is a game-changer for ChatGPT and other AI tools. Altman announced plans for five more data centers across the United States. These will team up with companies like Oracle and Softbank. The whole effort ties into a massive $500 billion investment push backed by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The Stargate project started as a cryptocurrency mining site but switched gears to meet the AI boom. Now, it’s set to become the world’s largest AI supercluster. That’s a fancy way of saying it will link hundreds of thousands of special computer chips to handle tough AI jobs. The Texas site alone has eight H-shaped buildings. Each one will pack in about 60,000 Nvidia GB200 chips. These chips are built for heavy AI work, like training chatbots.
Altman visited the site on a scorching Tuesday. The heat hit 97 degrees Fahrenheit, so he ditched his usual sweater for a T-shirt. He pressed a button to highlight how users don’t think about the tech behind ChatGPT. “When you hit that button on ChatGPT, you really don’t — I don’t, at least — think about what happens inside the data halls,” he said. But behind the scenes, this center powers the magic.
A Boost for Texas and Beyond
Abilene, once a quiet railroad town, is buzzing with change. Mayor Weldon Hurt called it a huge win for the local economy. Over 6,000 workers commute daily to the construction site. When done, it will create 1,700 full-time jobs on-site. Plus, thousands more indirect jobs in areas like housing and services. Signs along the roads shout, “AI WORKERS? HUGE DISCOUNTS” for homes from one to six bedrooms.
The project isn’t just about jobs. It’s part of Trump’s vision to supercharge US infrastructure. Back in January, after taking office, Trump spotlighted Stargate as a key investment. The partnership between OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank started with $100 billion pledges. Now, it’s aiming for up to $500 billion. This cash will build data centers and energy setups to fuel AI growth.
Oracle’s new co-CEO, Clay Magouyrk, joined Altman on the tour. They stressed green efforts in a dry West Texas spot. The center needs 900 megawatts of power—enough for a small city. One building runs already, and another is almost ready. A new gas-fired plant provides backup power. It’s like turbines on warships but cleaner than old diesel ones. Most electricity comes from the grid, mixed with wind and solar farms nearby.
Water is a hot topic too. Abilene’s reservoirs are at half capacity due to drought. Locals water lawns just two days a week, based on odd or even house numbers. The data center uses a closed-loop cooling system. It takes one million gallons for the first fill from city water. After that, each building needs only 12,000 gallons a year. “These data centers are designed to not use water,” Magouyrk said. He called it a smart fix for the environment.
But experts like Shaolei Ren from the University of California, Riverside, say it’s not all simple. Closed systems save water directly but guzzle more electricity. That power often comes from plants that use water indirectly. Plus, the gas plant’s emissions could affect health in nearby areas. Ren urges more studies on local impacts.
Local Voices: Excitement and Worry Mix
Not everyone in Abilene is thrilled. Neighbor Arlene Mendler misses the old peace. She and her husband Fred moved there 33 years ago for quiet horse rides on open roads. Now, 1,200 acres of scrubland—home to coyotes and roadrunners—are scraped bare. Constant noise and bright lights have changed nighttime skies. “It has completely changed the way we were living,” Arlene said. The project felt like a surprise; locals had little say once it started.
Still, leaders like US Senator Ted Cruz see upside. He toured the site and dubbed Texas “ground zero for AI.” Why? Cheap, plentiful energy. Cruz, a Texas Republican, said it’s perfect for big data centers.
OpenAI’s growth shows why this matters. Founded as a nonprofit in San Francisco, it’s betting huge on hardware. A new $300 billion deal with Oracle buys tons of computing power. Altman admitted limits with old partner Microsoft. “ChatGPT is slow. It’s not as smart as we’d like to be,” he told reporters. Users want more access, and OpenAI has fresh ideas brewing.
This shift breaks from Microsoft ties. It lets OpenAI scale up without bottlenecks.
Where the New Centers Will Pop Up
The five new sites spread AI power nationwide. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Shackelford County, Texas: Just northeast of Abilene. Oracle leads with OpenAI.
- Doña Ana County, New Mexico: Another desert spot with sunny skies for solar.
- Lordstown, Ohio: Softbank broke ground here. It’s in the industrial Midwest.
- Milam County, Texas: Softbank’s second Texas push, east of Abilene.
- Undisclosed Midwest Spot: Details coming soon, but it promises more jobs.
These builds follow Stargate’s Texas model. Each will chase energy efficiency and low water use. Together, they aim to keep US AI ahead of rivals like China.
Big Picture: AI’s Power Hungry Future
Stargate highlights AI’s double edge. It sparks jobs and innovation but strains resources. In drought-hit areas, every drop counts. Yet, backers say benefits outweigh costs. Altman dreams of diverse power sources beyond gas—like solar or nuclear—for long-term wins.
For workers, it’s a lifeline. In towns like Abilene, AI jobs mean steady pay. Homes sell fast, and schools plan for tech classes. But communities need voices in planning to ease pains.
As construction hums, eyes turn to results. Will ChatGPT get faster? Smarter? OpenAI hopes so. With Trump’s backing and partner muscle, Stargate could redefine US tech. It’s a bold step into an AI-driven world—hot, huge, and full of promise.
