OpenAI’s ambitious “Stargate” project, aimed at building AI-focused data centers across the U.S. and internationally, is reportedly facing delays due to financial and economic uncertainty. According to Bloomberg, growing concerns over tariffs are one of the key factors contributing to the slowdown.
The project’s goal is to raise up to $500 million to support the development of advanced AI infrastructure. However, increasing market volatility and the proliferation of cheaper AI services have made potential investors — including banks, private equity firms, and asset managers — more cautious. Even SoftBank, which announced in January 2024 its intention to make a major investment in Stargate, has yet to formulate a financing strategy or begin detailed negotiations with prospective partners.
At the same time, rising tariffs could significantly impact the cost of constructing data centers. Bloomberg, citing an analysis by TD Cowen, reports that price hikes for server racks, cooling systems, chips, and other components could increase overall build costs by an estimated 5–15%.
Investors are also growing increasingly wary of a potential oversupply in the AI infrastructure market. Bloomberg notes that major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon have already revised their data center strategies — in some cases halting or scaling back planned projects.
Ultimately, while Stargate remains a critical component of OpenAI’s long-term AI infrastructure vision, current economic conditions are presenting significant challenges to the realization of such large-scale initiatives.
