OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, is on a mission to escape Earth's electricity grid by launching his own rocket company into space. The AI giant's ambitious plan involves investing billions in Stoke Space, a Seattle-based startup developing reusable rockets. If successful, Stoke Space will become OpenAI's go-to platform for deploying massive data centers that are currently putting a strain on the US power grid.
The stakes are high, with estimates suggesting over 5,000 AI data centers now exist worldwide, and this number is expected to skyrocket in the coming years. The electricity demand of these facilities is projected to soar by 50% by 2027 and as much as 165% by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
Altman's solution lies in space β literally. He envisions massive data centers harnessing energy from the Sun through solar panels, feeding off the limitless power source that will no longer be bound by Earth's constraints. This bold plan is reminiscent of his previous proposal for building a Dyson sphere to capture and convert the Sun's energy.
Stoke Space, the startup at the center of this venture, is developing its own reusable rocket called Nova, which promises to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9. If OpenAI succeeds in their partnership, it could mark a significant blow to SpaceX founder Elon Musk's influence in the space industry. With Altman's investment in Stoke Space, he may be trying to hit two birds with one stone β not only expanding his company into space but also undermining Musk's dominance.
While it remains to be seen whether OpenAI will seal the deal with Stoke Space, this ambitious move is a testament to Altman's determination to find solutions to Earth's energy grid problems in the vastness of space.
The stakes are high, with estimates suggesting over 5,000 AI data centers now exist worldwide, and this number is expected to skyrocket in the coming years. The electricity demand of these facilities is projected to soar by 50% by 2027 and as much as 165% by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs.
Altman's solution lies in space β literally. He envisions massive data centers harnessing energy from the Sun through solar panels, feeding off the limitless power source that will no longer be bound by Earth's constraints. This bold plan is reminiscent of his previous proposal for building a Dyson sphere to capture and convert the Sun's energy.
Stoke Space, the startup at the center of this venture, is developing its own reusable rocket called Nova, which promises to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9. If OpenAI succeeds in their partnership, it could mark a significant blow to SpaceX founder Elon Musk's influence in the space industry. With Altman's investment in Stoke Space, he may be trying to hit two birds with one stone β not only expanding his company into space but also undermining Musk's dominance.
While it remains to be seen whether OpenAI will seal the deal with Stoke Space, this ambitious move is a testament to Altman's determination to find solutions to Earth's energy grid problems in the vastness of space.