Nvidia is reportedly in talks to provide $250 billion in financing guarantees for OpenAI’s massive AI data centre project in Ohio. The proposed investment would support the development of a 10-gigawatt AI campus, strengthening AI infrastructure and accelerating next-generation computing in the United States.
Key Highlights
- Nvidia is reportedly discussing $250 billion financing guarantees for OpenAI.
- The AI data centre project in Ohio is expected to cost over $500 billion.
- OpenAI aims to build its own AI infrastructure instead of relying on cloud providers.
- The project is expected to boost long-term demand for Nvidia AI chips.
New Delhi, July 27: US technology giant Nvidia is in discussions to provide approximately $250 billion in financing guarantees to OpenAI for one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) data centre projects, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The proposed financing would support OpenAI’s lease of a 10-gigawatt AI data centre campus being developed by SoftBank’s energy subsidiary in southern Ohio. The mega project is estimated to cost more than $500 billion, excluding some additional infrastructure investments, and is expected to become a key hub for next-generation AI computing in the United States.
According to the report, the proposed financing guarantee would cover the data centre lease and related debt financing, while the cost of Nvidia’s AI chips would be financed separately. Nvidia is also reportedly exploring financing arrangements for up to $350 billion worth of AI chips that will power the facility. For OpenAI, the project represents a strategic move to build and control its own large-scale AI infrastructure instead of depending primarily on cloud service providers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle. Owning dedicated computing infrastructure is expected to provide OpenAI with greater operational flexibility and long-term computing capacity for training increasingly sophisticated AI models.
For Nvidia, the proposed agreement would further strengthen demand for its industry-leading AI GPUs, which dominate the market for training and deploying advanced artificial intelligence systems. The report states that the financing support is intended to reassure lenders and strengthen investment vehicles backing the project, making it easier to secure large-scale funding. The first phase of the Ohio facility is expected to be operational by 2028, delivering approximately 800 megawatts of computing power, while additional phases will significantly expand capacity over the following years. The project is also expected to benefit from separate energy investments linked to a recent US-Japan trade agreement.
The report comes amid increasing global collaboration on AI infrastructure. Earlier this month, South Korean technology companies and global firms, including Nvidia, explored collaborative projects worth around $950 billion. Among the proposals is a long-term agreement under which SK Group would supply approximately $750 billion worth of high-performance semiconductors to leading technology companies, including Nvidia. Discussions involved senior industry leaders such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, highlighting the accelerating race to build the computing infrastructure needed for the next generation of artificial intelligence.
The proposed financing partnership between Nvidia and OpenAI highlights the rapid expansion of global AI infrastructure, with massive investments expected to shape the future of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and semiconductor demand.
