OpenAI proposes unprecedented data center plan to White House

Jack Aylmer

OPEN A-I IS PUSHING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF DATA CENTERS ACROSS THE U-S… EACH WOULD NEED AS MUCH POWER AS IT TAKES TO LIGHT UP AN ENTIRE CITY.

THE COMPANY SAYS ITS A NEEDED MOVE TO HELP AMERICA SECURE LEADERSHIP IN THE A-I ARMS RACE.

OPEN A-I CEO SAM ALTMAN AND OTHER TECH LEADERS RECENTLY MET WITH WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS, OUTLINING PLANS FOR CENTERS THAT REQUIRE 5 GIGAWATTS OF POWER… EQUIVALENT TO 5 NUCLEAR REACTORS. 

THE PROPOSAL HIGHLIGHTS THE CREATION OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS AND A MAJOR BOOST TO THE U-S ECONOMY… BUT BUILDING THESE CENTERS COULD FACE MAJOR DELAYS. POWER PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH LONG WAIT TIMES, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND LABOR SHORTAGES.  

OPEN A-I’S GOAL IS TO KEEP THE U-S COMPETITIVE IN A-I DEVELOPMENT. THE COMPANY IS SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR POLICIES TO HELP MEET THE MASSIVE ENERGY DEMANDS OF THESE DATA CENTERS. MICROSOFT, OPENAI’S BIGGEST BACKER, RECENTLY STRUCK A DEAL TO RESTART THE THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR PLANT JUST TO POWER ITS OPERATIONS FOR THE NEXT 3 DECADES.

THE U-S CURRENTLY HAS A TOTAL OF 96 GIGAWATTS OF INSTALLED CAPACITY OF NUCLEAR POWER. GENERATING OPEN A-I’S PROPOSED LEVEL OF ENERGY WILL REQUIRE A MIX OF NEW WIND AND SOLAR FARMS, BATTERY STORAGE AND A CONNECTION TO THE GRID.

STILL, EXPERTS ARE CONCERNED, SAYING THE SCALE AND SPEED OF OPEN A-I’S PLANS MIGHT BE UNREALISTIC. OPEN A-I BELIEVES THESE DATA CENTERS ARE KEY TO STAYING AHEAD OF GLOBAL COMPETITORS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M JACK AYLMER.