OpenAI’s planned data center in Abu Dhabi would be bigger than Monaco

Tech Crunch - May 16th, 2025

OpenAI is set to help develop a 5-gigawatt data center campus in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with G42, a tech conglomerate based in the UAE. This venture is part of OpenAI's Stargate project, which aims to establish major AI infrastructure worldwide. The Abu Dhabi campus will span 10 square miles and require energy equivalent to five nuclear reactors, surpassing any existing AI infrastructure by a significant margin. This project, following a similar initiative in Texas, underscores OpenAI’s strategic expansion in the AI domain, with the UAE poised as a key partner.

The collaboration highlights the growing AI ties between the US and UAE, but it has also sparked concerns among US lawmakers. G42's past connections with Chinese entities, such as Huawei, have raised fears about potential technology transfers to China. In response to these concerns, G42 announced a shift in strategy, divesting from Chinese investments and reducing its presence there. Microsoft, an OpenAI shareholder, has further strengthened ties with G42 through a $1.5 billion investment. The project holds significant geopolitical implications, reflecting the complex interplay of technological collaboration and national security considerations.

Microsoft Open Ai Sam Altman Ai Infrastructure Stargate Project G42 Abu Dhabi Geopolitical Concerns Data Center

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of OpenAI's involvement in a significant AI infrastructure project in Abu Dhabi. It accurately conveys the scale and potential impact of the project, while also addressing geopolitical concerns and the strategic partnerships involved. The story is timely and relevant, engaging readers interested in AI and international relations. However, it could benefit from more diverse perspectives and expert opinions to enhance its balance and impact. Overall, the article succeeds in presenting a complex topic in an accessible and engaging manner, while highlighting important issues related to technology and geopolitics.

Accuracy

The story presents a detailed account of OpenAI's involvement in a massive data center project in Abu Dhabi. It accurately describes the scale of the project, comparing it to Monaco in size and equating its power consumption to five nuclear reactors. The article also correctly identifies the key partners involved, such as G42, and mentions the geopolitical concerns surrounding the project. However, the story lacks direct confirmation from OpenAI, as they had not responded to requests for comment, which slightly affects its accuracy.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view by discussing both the potential benefits of the project and the geopolitical concerns it raises. It mentions the strategic partnership between OpenAI and G42, as well as the worries of U.S. lawmakers about the involvement of Chinese entities. However, the story could have been more balanced by including perspectives from other stakeholders or experts in the field of AI and international relations.

Clarity

The article is well-structured, with a clear and logical flow that makes it easy to follow. It uses straightforward language and provides relevant comparisons to help readers understand the scale of the project. However, the story could have been clearer in explaining the technical aspects of the data center and the specific roles of the involved parties.

Source quality

The primary source for the story is a Bloomberg report, which is generally considered reliable. The article also references TechCrunch and mentions Microsoft's involvement, lending credibility to the claims. However, the lack of a direct response from OpenAI affects the overall source quality slightly. The story could have been strengthened by including more diverse sources or expert opinions.

Transparency

The article is transparent in its disclosure of the sources of information, such as the Bloomberg report and TechCrunch. It also mentions the lack of a response from OpenAI, which is a good practice in transparency. However, the story could have provided more context about the implications of the project and the potential impact on the AI industry and international relations.