Microsoft and OpenAI have announced that Stargate, a new U.S.-based AI supercomputer data center project, could cost more than $115 billion and is scheduled to start in 2028.
The rapidly increasing demand for generative artificial intelligence is accelerating the demand for AI-centric data centers that can handle more advanced tasks than traditional data centers.
The Stargate supercomputer project is designed over five phases. The cost of the Stargate project is more than triple Microsoft's capital spending last year on servers, buildings and other equipment. Considering this capital expenditure, this project will cost over 100 times more than the largest data center currently in operation.
Additionally, Stargate's power requirements are estimated to be several gigawatts, meaning Microsoft and OpenAI may need to consider alternative power sources, such as nuclear power.
One can only imagine the security implications of a Stargate, especially if nuclear power is the primary power source.
Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste, such as uranium plant tailings, spent nuclear reactor fuel, and other radioactive waste. These materials can remain radioactive for thousands of years and pose a risk to human health.
Nuclear waste is disposed of in accordance with the strict requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. From the time nuclear fuel leaves a reactor until it waits in a dry cask for permanent disposal, the U.S. nuclear industry sets standards of excellence.
But what's different about Stargate is that the amount of nuclear waste will increase dramatically. This is the direction we are heading, so imagine hundreds of Stargates operating all over the world.
Ask yourself the ethical question: What would be the impact if the amount of nuclear waste were to explode 100 times as much?
Microsoft and OpenAI have done robust scenario planning and collaborated with leading scientists to understand the risks of operating not just one Stargate, but hundreds of Stargates or similar Stargates, and to protect Mother Earth. need to assess the impact on
There is an urgent need to strengthen necessary government policies and laws regarding generative AI risks.
There is also a lot of short-term thinking in OpenAI, with numerous lawsuits being filed in the US and around the world for copyright infringement.
Microsoft, known for its ethical practices, is truly cornering a tiger with its close relationship with OpenAI.
But a recent $2.1 billion investment in French startup Mistral AI could provide some relief for Microsoft should its relationship with OpenAI sour as lawsuits against its practices continue to mount.