OpenAI has offered to assist countries in developing their artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, backed by the US government, as an alternative to China’s AI ambitions.
The California-based startup is prepared to support all stages of development, from building data centres to creating local versions of its renowned AI generative assistant, ChatGPT.
This proposal is part of the Stargate project, unveiled in January, which plans to invest $500 billion (€442.2 billion) over four years in necessary AI facilities.
Stargate is largely financed by the Japanese investment firm SoftBank.
OpenAI stated in a website post, “In these times, we must support countries that prefer to develop democratic AI, a clear alternative to authoritarian versions that aim to strengthen political regimes.”
This announcement follows China’s substantial investment in digital infrastructure abroad, primarily in emerging markets to boost AI development.
Chinese tech giants like internet search behemoth Baidu, telecom equipment provider Huawei, and AI startup DeepSeek are looking to expand internationally.
DeepSeek’s launch of its new generative AI interface, R1, in January has shaken the AI industry. The young Chinese company claims to have developed a model comparable to American AI giants at a significantly lower cost.
OpenAI vows to continue prioritising the security of its generative AI models, an aspect deemed “essential for upholding democracy and human rights,” according to the San Francisco group.
The American startup aims to form partnerships with ten countries willing to “invest in expanding the Stargate project” and support “US-led AI.”
“We have heard the call from several countries requesting assistance to build their AI infrastructure,” stated OpenAI.
