OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, officials host tour of Stargate data center in north Abilene
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman cracked open the doors Tuesday to the flagship data center under construction in north Abilene.
When the $500 billion Stargate project was announced by President Donald Trump on his first full day in office Jan. 21, he described it as the largest development initiative for artificial intelligence infrastructure in history.
Until Tuesday, scant few outside of tech billionaires, politicians and the 6,400-plus construction workers had seen what's arisen off of Old Anson Road since the announcement. That changed Tuesday when media outlets from the United States and Europe converged for a tour of the facility.
With security at the construction site always tight, Altman described during a question and answer presentation why they finally granted access, albeit limited.
He was joined by other leaders in the AI industry, as well as U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Abilene Mayor Weldon Hurt.
"About a month ago, we were talking to some journalists, and they said, 'Hey, you talk about these data centers and these big projects, you've got to, like, show us one,'" Altman said. "'Yeah, actually, that sounds great.' And this was obviously the one we wanted to do. We're super proud of this project."
This is an exciting time. This is exciting for Abilene," Cruz said. "AI is the next major technological innovation. It's going to change every aspect of all of our lives. And AI is coming, whether we want it or not."
To that end, three more data centers were announced, including one in Shackelford County.
The Albany News reported in late August that a location for a $25 billion data center was being scouted near the intersection of FM Road 604 and State Highway 351 about 10 miles northeast of Abilene.
"This is incredible," Hurt said. "I'm excited for our neighbors in Shackleford County, with what's in store for them."
Arrington rolled out his own moniker for the latest iteration of the Big Country.
"Welcome to 'Silicon Prairie,' the place where big horizons meet even bigger opportunities," he said. "For the same reasons West Texas became the epicenter for America's food security and energy independence, we are now fast becoming the new frontier of information technology and the backbone for AI in the United States."
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(This story was updated to add a photo gallery and a video.)
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Tech CEO, officials host tour of Stargate AI data center in Abilene
