SALINE TOWNSHIP, Michigan — OpenAI, Oracle, and Related Digital announced plans on Thursday to build a massive 1-gigawatt data-center campus in Michigan, marking a major step in the companies’ joint Stargate initiative to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States.
The multi-billion-dollar project, slated to begin construction in early 2026, reflects the AI industry’s soaring demand for computing power as firms race to develop systems capable of human-level intelligence. Industry experts estimate that 1 GW of computing capacity — enough to power about 750,000 U.S. homes — could cost around $50 billion.
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The Michigan campus is part of the broader 4.5-GW Stargate expansion led by OpenAI and Oracle, which now includes six additional U.S. sites. Together, these projects are expected to push total capacity above 8 GW and overall investment beyond $450 billion over the next three years, keeping Stargate ahead of its $500 billion, 10-GW goal.
OpenAI, which recently completed a corporate restructuring to move away from its nonprofit model, has hinted at an initial public offering that could value the ChatGPT-maker at up to $1 trillion. However, some analysts have warned that the rapid rise in AI spending — exceeding $1 trillion globally — may signal the early signs of a market bubble.
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Related Digital will oversee development of the Michigan site, which is expected to create more than 2,500 union construction jobs. “This project will help ensure Michigan is a key part of building the AI infrastructure that will power the next generation of American innovation,” said Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI’s vice president of industrial compute.