Nvidia has agreed to provide a guarantee of up to $105 billion to support OpenAI’s planned data center project in Pike County, Ohio, marking one of the chipmaker’s largest commitments to artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The facility is being developed by SB Energy, which is owned by SoftBank, and OpenAI has agreed to lease the site for 20 years. Nvidia will also invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy, following an earlier $1 billion investment by OpenAI and SoftBank to expand data center infrastructure.
The Ohio facility could eventually reach up to 8 gigawatts of capacity, with the first 800 megawatts expected to come online in 2028. Nvidia will serve as the exclusive chip provider for the project, strengthening its role in the development of large-scale AI computing infrastructure.
Nvidia said its guarantee does not cover the entire cost of the project or all of OpenAI’s financial obligations. Instead, it covers part of the lease and power commitments while helping ensure the facility maintains a minimum value if OpenAI is unable to meet its obligations.
The investment highlights Nvidia’s growing strategy of supporting the infrastructure needed to run its chips. While the approach could help accelerate AI development and increase demand for Nvidia’s technology, it has also raised concerns among investors about the growing links between AI companies, chip suppliers and infrastructure financing.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the arrangement is aimed at securing long-term infrastructure that can support multiple generations of Nvidia computing systems and allow OpenAI to expand its AI capabilities over time.
The project is also expected to require significant investment in power infrastructure. SoftBank and SB Energy plan to develop at least 10 gigawatts of new power generation and invest $4.2 billion in regional grid infrastructure through a partnership with AEP Ohio.
According to OpenAI, the development could create around 35,000 construction jobs through 2032 and approximately 2,500 long-term operating jobs.
The Ohio project reflects the enormous scale of investment now required to support advanced artificial intelligence. As demand for AI computing continues to grow, access to land, electricity and high-performance chips is becoming increasingly important in the global race to build the next generation of AI infrastructure.
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