In a landmark move to bolster the United States' position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) arena, President Donald Trump has announced the launch of "Stargate," a joint venture poised to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure by 2029. This initiative is a collaboration between industry leaders OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and the investment firm MGX.

The announcement was made at a White House press conference on January 21, 2025, where President Trump was joined by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. The initial investment of $100 billion will focus on constructing data centers across the nation, with the first facility already underway in Abilene, Texas. Plans are in place to expand to 20 data centers in the future.

President Trump emphasized the project's significance, stating, "Stargate will invest $500 billion, at least, in AI infrastructure in the United States and move very quickly to create over 100,000 American jobs."

Sam Altman highlighted the transformative potential of the initiative, expressing optimism about its impact on the AI landscape and the nation's leadership in the field. He remarked, "I'm thrilled we get to do this in the United States of America; I believe this will be the most important project of this era."

Larry Ellison underscored the project's health care implications, suggesting that AI could expedite the development of mRNA vaccines against diseases like cancer, potentially designing such vaccines "in about 48 hours."

Masayoshi Son shared his vision for the future, stating, "This will help solve many difficult issues that we could not address without the power of AI. I believe AGI is coming very soon, but that's not the ultimate goal. After AGI, artificial superintelligence will emerge to tackle problems mankind never imagined we could solve. This is the beginning of our golden age."

The Stargate project is expected to create over 100,000 American jobs and is seen as a strategic move to secure the nation's leadership in AI, fostering economic growth and enhancing national security.

This announcement comes amid heightened global competition in AI development, particularly with China's recent advancements in the field. The Stargate initiative reflects the United States' commitment to maintaining its competitive edge and addressing the infrastructure needs essential for the next generation of AI technologies.