Stargate: $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Project Looks Abroad
Stargate, the mammoth $500 billion data centre initiative powered by investments from SoftBank,
OpenAI, and Oracle, is considering the United Kingdom as a future flagship site for its next-generation AI infrastructure, according to a report from the Financial Times. The project aims to expand globally, building the backbone needed for powerful artificial intelligence models and applications.
UK’s Approach Attracts Global AI Investment
The UK has emerged as an attractive candidate due to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s promises to foster a pro-innovation regulatory environment. His administration has committed to making public data more accessible for researchers and to establishing official “data centre zones”—key moves in Starmer’s bid to transform the UK into a global artificial intelligence “superpower.”
Efforts by the government to improve data centres’ access to electricity are also drawing the Stargate consortium’s attention. Besides the UK, both Germany and France have surfaced as alternative contenders for hosting parts of the Stargate infrastructure, as cited by sources familiar with the project.
OpenAI’s Expanding European Footprint
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed significant interest in expanding Stargate operations into Europe, saying the company “would love” to develop a Stargate Europe. Demonstrating its commitment to the continent, OpenAI has recently opened offices in London, Paris, Brussels, and Munich, positioning itself at the forefront of Europe’s AI sector.
Origins of the Stargate Project
Unveiled in January 2025 as a landmark private sector collaboration, the Stargate project is designed to invest $500 billion over four years to build state-of-the-art AI infrastructure—initially concentrated in the United States. The first $100 billion is already being deployed, with Texas hosting the initial stages of development. SoftBank and OpenAI serve as the lead financial and operational partners, respectively.
Other key technology partners include Arm, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, in addition to Oracle and OpenAI. This constellation of tech giants is poised to drive rapid advancements in AI model training and deployment for a wide range of innovative
AI tools.
Sector Momentum Remains High
The Stargate project has become a focal point of global investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, turbocharged by the rapid adoption of chatbots and advanced AI agents over the past several years.
- Stargate is currently funded by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle
- First stage underway in the United States, focused on massive data centre buildout
- UK, Germany, and France in the running for additional international expansion
- Project aligns with UK ambitions to be an AI “superpower”
- Sector bolstered by global interest in versatile AI platforms and agents
The Road Ahead
The Stargate consortium’s exploration of the UK and other European sites marks a new wave of cross-Atlantic competition for AI infrastructure supremacy. As regulatory frameworks, investment environments, and technological capabilities rapidly evolve, where Stargate plants its next roots could shape the future of AI not just in Europe, but worldwide.
