OpenAI has entered a strategic partnership with SB Energy, a SoftBank Group company, to expand artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure in the United States under the Stargate initiative. The deal builds on the US$ 500 billion Stargate commitment announced in January 2025 at the White House, and focuses on scaling data center capacity as demand for AI compute increases.
According to a press release, OpenAI and SoftBank Group will each invest US$ 500 million in SB Energy. OpenAI has also selected SB Energy to build and operate its previously announced 1.2 GW data center in Milam County, Texas. The equity investment is intended to support SB Energy’s expansion as a developer and operator of large-scale data center campuses and related energy systems.
OpenAI co-founder and President Greg Brockman said, “Partnering with SB Energy brings together their strength in data center infrastructure and energy development and OpenAI’s deep domain expertise in data center engineering. The result is a fast, reliable way to scale compute through large, highly optimized AI data centers.”
SB Energy co-CEO Rich Hossfeld said, “SB Energy’s strategic partnership with OpenAI accelerates our delivery of advanced AI data center campuses and associated energy infrastructure at the scale required to advance Stargate and secure America’s AI future.”
The companies have also formed a non-exclusive preferred partnership to develop a standardized approach to building AI data centers. The model combines OpenAI’s in-house data center design with SB Energy’s experience in execution, cost control, and integrated energy delivery.
SB Energy is currently developing multiple multi-gigawatt data center campuses across the U.S. Initial facilities are under construction, with some expected to enter service starting in 2026. According to the companies, the new Texas facility is being designed to reduce water usage, and new power generation will be built to support its energy needs while limiting impacts on Texas ratepayers.