Stargate was a long-running TV program about a portal system built by an ancient race to get around the galaxy quickly. Evil aliens used the portal system to kidnap and subjugate the peoples of the star systems. As a sci-fi fan, I loved the show.
OpenAI and Softbank’s enormous AI infrastructure project, dubbed Project Stargate, isn’t about moving around the galaxy via wormholes. It’s about moving business data much more swiftly and expanding computing resources to power AI. Sorry, no evil or ancient aliens.
OpenAI couldn’t get the scale and speed it needed from using Microsoft’s Azure or other clouds. OpenAI pivoted to partnering with Oracle and Softbank to build data centers, both large and small, that support AI in computing.
The data centers, designed as a bridge between cloud and on-premises computing, should reduce dependence on third-party cloud providers, provide more control over compute resources, and allow faster deployment of AI models.
How could this help small businesses? The enormous centralized data centers could provide lower-cost AI computing resources, providing affordable access to high-powered AI tools. Small data centers would provide local access for all businesses seeking to utilize AI.
It sounds incredible, and the first massive data center is under construction and possibly in partial use in Abilene, Texas. A second small data center may break ground later this year. However, there’s more hype than substance, and a full buildout will take years.
Author: Kris Keppeler, a curious writer who finds technology fascinating. Follow her on X (Twitter) @KrisNarrates, on Medium.com @kriskeppeler, and LinkedIn.
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