OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital jointly announced plans to build a data center campus exceeding 1 gigawatt in Salion, Michigan. This is their latest move to advance artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and is part of the "Stargate" project, aimed at expanding AI infrastructure capacity in the United States.

This news, released on Thursday (October 30), highlights the rapid demand for computing power from the AI ​​industry.

Just recently, OpenAI, Oracle, and hyperscale data center campus provider Vantage Data Centers jointly announced plans to build a data center campus in Port Washington, Wisconsin, also as part of the "Stargate" project.

Investment and Jobs

This latest project in Michigan is expected to break ground in early 2026 and is part of the AI ​​infrastructure plan announced by OpenAI and Oracle in July. At the time, the two companies officially announced an agreement to develop an additional 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity in the United States, further expanding their cooperation in the field of AI infrastructure.

Regarding this new project, Peter Hoeschele, Vice President of Industrial Computing at OpenAI, believes that the project will help ensure Michigan plays a key role in building the AI ​​infrastructure needed for the next generation of American innovation and strengthen the domestic supply chain.

Mahesh Thiagarajan, Executive Vice President of Cloud Infrastructure at Oracle, pointed out that this move aims to "rapidly expand cloud capabilities to meet unprecedented demand for AI."

According to the statement, the new data center project involves an investment of billions of dollars, funded by a consortium of private investors and financial institutions.

Related Digital will reportedly be responsible for the development of the Michigan project, which is expected to create more than 2,500 construction jobs. During the ongoing operation phase, Related Digital and Oracle expect to jointly create more than 450 jobs on-site at the data center and 1,500 support jobs at the county level, while also driving thousands of indirect jobs in Michigan and across the United States.

Jeff T. Blau, CEO of Related and Chairman of Related Digital, emphasized the project's importance, stating, "This historic investment will ensure Michigan plays a leading role in the development of the digital infrastructure needed by American companies."

The Stargate project's planned capacity exceeds 8 gigawatts.

Furthermore, according to OpenAI, if this new site is included with six other planned sites in the US, the Stargate project's planned capacity will exceed 8 gigawatts, with total investment exceeding $450 billion over the next three years.

OpenAI believes this move will allow the Stargate project to be completed ahead of schedule, fulfilling its promise of $500 billion and 10 gigawatts of computing power.

However, OpenAI has not yet revealed details of how it plans to raise this funding.

Earlier this week, the company completed a restructuring, allowing the ChatGPT maker to shed its non-profit status. Reports also indicate that the company is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), which could value the company at up to $1 trillion.