财富FORTUNE·2025-09-28 13:04Core Viewpoint - The "Gateway to the Stars" project, initiated by OpenAI and Oracle, aims to establish a significant AI infrastructure in Abilene, Texas, with a total investment of several hundred billion dollars, marking a new industrial wave in the region [2][3][4]. Group 1: Project Overview - The "Gateway to the Stars" project will expand the data center in Abilene and build five additional large data centers across the U.S. in the coming years, with a total investment potentially reaching several hundred billion dollars [3][4]. - The project has already engaged 6,400 workers in Abilene, with construction activities involving significant earthworks and extensive fiber optic cable installations [3][4]. Group 2: Infrastructure Requirements - AI's demand for infrastructure is highlighted, with major tech companies like OpenAI, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta competing to build AI model infrastructures [4][5]. - The project aims to create a backbone network for AI models across the U.S., with a total investment target of $500 billion [4][5]. Group 3: Energy and Capacity - The "Gateway to the Stars" project will result in a total power capacity of 7 GW over the next three years, with an investment exceeding $4 billion [4][6]. - The new data centers will require substantial energy, with one 1 GW data center needing infrastructure equivalent to the total energy consumption of nearly 1 million households [4][6]. Group 4: Economic and Political Context - The project is part of a government-private partnership initiative, aiming to keep critical AI infrastructure within the U.S. and expedite regulatory processes [4][7]. - Local officials emphasize Texas's attractiveness as an AI infrastructure hub, with significant political support for the project [4][7]. Group 5: Challenges and Criticism - The project faces criticism regarding its environmental impact, including concerns about air quality, water resource consumption, and the potential strain on local power grids [7][8]. - There are ongoing discussions about whether expectations for AI are overly optimistic, with potential risks of an industry bubble [8][9].