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According to a report from The Information on Friday, Microsoft is drafting plans to construct a groundbreaking $100 billion supercomputer, dubbed “Stargate,” intended to power OpenAI’s forthcoming generation of artificial intelligence systems.
Stargate is the final phase of a collaborative endeavor between Microsoft and OpenAI, which aims to set up several supercomputers across the United States. Speculations suggest that Stargate will emerge as one of the largest and most sophisticated data centers globally, potentially spread over several hundred acres of land. Plus, designs indicate that the place will need about 5 gigawatts of power.
This ambitious project is deemed critical for OpenAI’s endeavors in training and deploying advanced AI models surpassing the capabilities of ChatGPT-4. A prospective launch is anticipated as early as 2028.
The moniker “Stargate” draws inspiration from the 1994 science-fiction film revolving around an interstellar teleportation device discovered in Egypt. Reflecting the film’s themes of exploration and discovery, the official trailer for Stargate famously declares, “The key to the past, the door to the future, the passage to discovery,” serving as a poignant source of inspiration for OpenAI and Microsoft’s AI supercomputer venture.
The deployment of Stargate hinges significantly on OpenAI’s ability to deliver its next major AI upgrade, purportedly GPT-5, anticipated for an early 2025 release, as per The Information’s report. Microsoft is keen to ensure that OpenAI continues to pioneer AI models that captivate global attention.
Notably, OpenAI’s reported failure to deliver a new AI project named “Arrakis” in 2023 underscores concerns about the company’s innovation trajectory. This can largely be attributed to the constraints that come with the logistics and budgetary concerns of setting up and running a supercomputing infrastructure.
The development of Stargate also sheds light on rumors surrounding Sam Altman’s purported establishment of a high-cost AI chip factory. A primary challenge in erecting an AI supercomputer of this magnitude lies in securing Nvidia GPUs to power the infrastructure.
The persistent shortage of Nvidia chips throughout the AI industry’s hype cycle has prompted speculation that a formidable competitor from Altman and Microsoft could potentially disrupt the market and confer unprecedented advantages.
As Microsoft and OpenAI forge ahead with their ambitious supercomputer project, the anticipation surrounding Stargate’s emergence underscores its potential to redefine the landscape of artificial intelligence research and development.
