Elon Musk and Sam Altman have recently engaged in a public dispute over the “Stargate” project, a $500 billion artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure initiative announced by President Donald Trump. The project, a collaboration between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, aims to develop advanced AI data centers across the United States, starting with ten facilities in Abilene, Texas.
The disagreement began when Musk questioned the project’s financial viability on social media, asserting that SoftBank had secured less than $10 billion for the venture. Altman refuted this claim, inviting Musk to visit the construction site and emphasizing the project’s national significance. He stated, “This is great for the country. I realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role I hope you’ll mostly put [America] first.”
This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Musk and Altman, former collaborators at OpenAI. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, departed in 2018 due to strategic disagreements and has since criticized the organization’s direction, particularly its shift towards for-profit operations and its close partnership with Microsoft.
The Stargate project, described by President Trump as “the largest AI infrastructure project in history,” plans an initial investment of $100 billion, potentially increasing to $500 billion by 2029. The initiative is expected to create over 100,000 jobs in the United States, with SoftBank overseeing financial responsibilities and OpenAI managing operations.
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