Photo by Levart_Photographer on Unsplash
A Data Center the Size of a Microstate
Imagine a single campus stretching across 10 square miles—larger than the entire Principality of Monaco. That’s exactly what OpenAI and Abu Dhabi tech giant G42 are plotting: a 5‑gigawatt AI data center designed to power the next wave of machine‑learning breakthroughs. Dailyscitech
Powering the AI Revolution
Five gigawatts of capacity is no small feat. To put it in perspective, this facility would consume roughly the same energy as five mid‑sized nuclear reactors. Inside, rows of high‑performance servers loaded with cutting‑edge AI chips will crunch vast datasets, train massive neural networks, and deliver lightning‑fast inferences to researchers around the globe. Dailyscitech
Inside the “Stargate” Vision
This UAE campus isn’t a standalone project—it’s part of OpenAI’s wider Stargate initiative. Launched earlier this year, Stargate brings together industry heavyweights such as SoftBank and Oracle to create a network of mega data centers from Texas to Abu Dhabi. While the first U.S. site in Abilene tops out at 1.2 GW, the Abu Dhabi counterpart will more than quadruple that footprint, cementing the region’s role in tomorrow’s AI ecosystem. Dailyscitech
Geopolitics and Global Partnerships
OpenAI’s ties with G42 date back to a 2023 collaboration aimed at spreading AI adoption across the Middle East. G42 is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan—Abu Dhabi’s national security advisor—sparking both excitement and caution among international observers. U.S. lawmakers have previously raised concerns over G42’s past investments in China and connections to technology firms on various watchlists. In response, G42 has divested its Chinese holdings and welcomed a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft, whose president, Brad Smith, now sits on G42’s board. Dailyscitech
