Microsoft-backed OpenAI plans to build data centers with up to 5 gigawatts of power requirements. The ambitious plan is part of the artificial intelligence powerhouse to build data centers capable of handling AI systems that can be as intelligent as humans.
5GW Data Centers
OpenAI received an investment of about $13 billion from Microsoft (MSFT) last year to finance its AI innovation plans to build between 5 and 7 data centers to support its AI plans. At the moment, OpenAI leads the pack in creating AI that can generate content, but to keep that top spot, it will need to keep up with the growing demand for more computing power.
The $100 billion and 5GW numbers indicate that these proposed facilities are meant to accommodate the “Stargate” supercomputing clusters that Microsoft and OpenAI are said to be developing for future models of OpenAI. To put this investment into perspective, Alphabet recently revealed plans to invest $3.3 billion in constructing two state-of-the-art data centers in South Carolina.
Whitehouse Lobbying
Given the huge power requirements required to power such data centers, the parent company behind ChatGPT wants the US government to help streamline the process of constructing such data centers. The company’s chief executive officer, Sam Altman, has already assembled top AI players and held meetings with officials at the White House.
It’s a massive undertaking for OpenAI, which seeks to maintain its edge in the AI race. Constructing the vast data centers with a 5 gigawatts power requirement is a considerable undertaking, given that the power is equivalent to production from five nuclear reactors. Additionally, it is enough energy to power a major city like Miami. The power requirement is also 100 times the standard large data center requirement.
Nevertheless, OpenAI is one of many companies that have seen the need for additional power to support its AI innovation. In March, tech giant Amazon acquired a data center in Pennsylvania, which shares its location with the Susquehanna nuclear power station. This power plant generates 2.5GW of electricity, and the seller of the data center, Talen Energy, mentioned that Amazon Web Services plans to utilize up to 960 MW of its power.
Power Intensive Data Centers Opposition
Microsoft has also agreed with Constellation to kickstart the Three Mile Island reactor operations. This will supply Microsoft’s data centers with 835 MW of carbon-free energy starting from 2028.
The demand for advanced data centers to handle all kinds of AI systems is occurring simultaneously with a rise in opposition from local and federal governments globally, who are concerned about the effects on their electrical systems and water resources. The machinery in data centers requires continuous cooling, either through air or liquid, with liquid cooling being more effective for modern, high-performance devices.
In the United States, new regulations and increased taxes have been implemented to hinder the growth of data centers in states like Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, Arkansas, and Illinois. The White House mentioned last week that decommissioned coal plants could serve as suitable locations for data center construction, as they already have grid connections, but currently, there is a shortage of available space.
