OpenAI, Oracle Lead $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Effort Across US

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, predicts that 2026 will be a landmark year for artificial intelligence, with AI systems achieving unprecedented insights and making discoveries beyond human knowledge. He believes that AI may have already surpassed human intelligence, marking the start of a significant technological takeoff. OpenAI is spearheading Stargate, a major initiative with Oracle and SoftBank, aiming to invest up to $500 billion in expanding AI infrastructure across the United States. Altman envisions AI evolving from a tool that simply automates tasks to one that uncovers novel questions and solutions critical for scientific research and innovation. This rapid AI progress is expected to reshape numerous industries by driving breakthroughs, as evidenced by recent advancements such as AI’s role in predicting protein structures, which contributed to a Nobel Prize in Physics. The ongoing evolution highlights the dual challenge of harnessing AI’s capabilities while thoughtfully navigating its impact on society and research.