Elon Musk has publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s recently announced artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, known as the Stargate Project. Launched on January 21, 2025, the project aims to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure by 2029, with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank as key partners. President Trump described it as “the largest AI infrastructure project in history.”
Musk, CEO of xAI and a former co-founder of OpenAI, expressed skepticism about the project’s financial backing. He suggested that SoftBank may have less than $10 billion available for the initiative, casting doubt on the feasibility of meeting the projected investment levels.
In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the Stargate Project, asserting that the financial commitments are solid and that the initiative is well-positioned to advance AI infrastructure.
The Stargate Project plans to construct 10 data centers in Abilene, Texas, with plans for expansion to other states. The initiative is expected to create over 100,000 jobs in the United States. Key technology partners include Arm, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and OpenAI.
This public disagreement between Musk and Trump highlights ongoing tensions within the tech industry and among political leaders regarding the future direction of AI development and investment.
