OpenAI is scouring the U.S. for sites to build a network of huge data centers to power its artificial intelligence technology, expanding beyond a flagship Texas location and looking across 16 states to accelerate the Stargate project championed by President Donald Trump.

ChatGPT creator OpenAI, Softbank and Oracle, along with other equity backers of Stargate, have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remaining investment expected over the next four years, according to the White House. The first of Stargate’s data centers are already under construction in Abilene, Texas.

A data center can use as much as 2 million gallons of water per day to cool down racks of servers in warehouse-sized facilities.

Stargate, a joint venture between ChatGPT creator OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, plans to invest up to $500 billion to help the United States stay ahead of China and other competitors in the global AI race.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI is searching for potential sites across the U.S. to build advanced data centers for the $500 billion Project Stargate.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI said on Thursday that it is evaluating U.S. states as potential artificial intelligence data center locations for its massive Stargate venture, framing the project as a matter of urgency for the United States to beat China in the global AI race.

OpenAI is scouting Oregon and 15 other states as it prepares to build a network of huge data centers to power its artificial intelligence technology, expanding beyond a flagship Texas location and looking across 16 states to accelerate the Stargate project championed by President Donald Trump.

The companies in Stargate, the new consortium to build out AI infrastructure for OpenAI, are actively considering siting new data center projects in more than a dozen states, OpenAI announced Thursday.