OpenAI to Create Global Stargate... Establishing AI Infrastructure in 10 Countries

OpenAI has revealed its ambitious plan to collaborate with governments worldwide to build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The company plans to expand its 'Stargate' project, initially led by the Donald Trump administration in the U.S., to a global scale. As the AI supremacy race between the U.S. and China accelerates, OpenAI emphasizes the spread of 'democratic AI' and is seen as building an AI alliance front among nations.

On the 7th (local time), OpenAI announced the 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative, stating, "We will support countries aiming to establish a democratic AI foundation worldwide and provide a clear alternative to authoritarian AI that seeks to concentrate power." The core of the initiative is to build data centers in each country and create AI startup funds. Additionally, OpenAI announced plans to develop customized ChatGPT for each country and enhance the safety of AI models based on the newly established data centers.

The target is 10 countries. OpenAI stated, "With the cooperation of the U.S. government, we will officially collaborate on infrastructure with governments interested in this project," and initially plans to undertake 10 projects. OpenAI did not disclose the exact list of countries. However, there is anticipation that South Korea might be included, given that Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, visited Korea in February, formed a strategic alliance with Kakao, and met with Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group.

In the local tech industry, this initiative is analyzed as not merely a technical collaboration but an effort to establish a U.S.-led AI alliance front. OpenAI has limited its cooperation to countries that use its technology in a democratic manner, indirectly indicating a measure to counter China. Recently, in export control recommendations submitted to the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), it defined democratic markets as "the world excluding China and a few of its allies."

However, concerns are raised that if this initiative is treated as part of the U.S. Stargate project, it could threaten the AI control rights of countries worldwide. Michael Kratsios, Director of OSTP, recently stated, "If America's technological achievements, from AI to aerospace, are successfully commercialized, they could become a powerful diplomatic tool for the U.S." Keegan McBride, Senior Policy Advisor at the Tony Blair Institute, mentioned in an interview with Fortune, "This initiative reaffirms that the U.S. government wants countries to choose the U.S. as a key partner in the digital technology sector."

Silicon Valley Correspondent: Song Young-chan 0full@hankyung.com