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The company behind ChatGPT, OpenAI, and Sur Energy are preparing a US$25 billion project to develop a data center of up to 500 MW in Argentina.
The companies announced the signing of a letter of intent to build the first of the Stargate project's data centers in Latin America. The initiative is considered one of the largest technological and energy infrastructure investments in the country's history.
Stargate was unveiled earlier this year with a plan to invest up to US$500 billion over the next four years to develop new artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States. Its initial US backers include Softbank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX.
“This milestone goes beyond infrastructure. It's about putting artificial intelligence in the hands of people across Argentina,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a press release. The announcement came after a meeting between Argentine President Javier Milei and company representatives.
The investment will be realized through a joint venture between the energy and infrastructure integrator Sur Energy and an international cloud infrastructure developer, whose name was not revealed. OpenAI will be the buyer of the data center capacity, which will be structured under the Investment Incentive Scheme (RIGI).
BNamericas contacted OpenAI, but no further details about the project have been provided so far.
Sur Energy is a company dedicated to developing digital infrastructure in Latin America, founded by Argentine entrepreneurs Matías Travizano and Emiliano Kargieman, along with Stan Chudnovsky. Travizano and Chudnovsky participated in the rescue of WOM in Colombia under the umbrella of Sur Holdings, while Kargieman is the founder and CEO of the Argentine-American earth observation company Satellogic. Travizano recently passed away during a mountaineering excursion.
The company is implementing sustainable data center projects, Sur Energy said in its statement.
“The Stargate Argentina project represents a historic opportunity for the country. It combines our unique potential in renewable energy with the development of critical infrastructure for artificial intelligence on a global scale,” said Kargieman.
"This alliance makes Argentina a key player in the new global digital and energy landscape, creating quality jobs, attracting international investment, and demonstrating that innovation and energy can be complementary drivers of sustainable development," he added.
In a report published this week on OpenAI's contribution in Argentina, the company highlighted the national AI plan promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, noting that "the 'rails' that facilitate [AI's] expansion are in place."
"These underlying policies, combined with strong digital adoption, position Argentina well to achieve lasting gains in competitiveness and inclusion," he added.
OpenAI also highlighted that Argentina, through Invap, is exploring a data-centric, nuclear-powered strategy in Patagonia. The country recently joined as a contributing partner in the United States' FIRST program, which promotes research into small-scale nuclear reactors for civilian use.
OpenAI in Argentina
Argentina is among the five Latin American countries with the most paid subscriptions, according to OpenAI figures, and is one of the fastest-growing markets for developers using the ChatGPT application interface.
The province with the highest proportion of ChatGPT use is Buenos Aires (46.6%), followed by Córdoba (12.3%), Santa Fe (9.1%), Mendoza (4%) and Tucumán (3.2%).
The user profile is led by young people between 18 and 24 years old and 25 to 34 years old.
(The original version of this content was written in Spanish)
