OpenAI

OpenAI’s comments to the NTIA on data center growth, resilience, and security

2024-11-04 · 00:00 UTC ·2 min read

Brief

OpenAI’s Nov 4, 2024 comments to the NTIA argue that data center policy is critical for U.S. competitiveness: their outside forecast estimates a single 5 GW data center would support ~40,000 jobs and contribute $17–$20 billion in state GDP. OpenAI highlights $175 billion in global infrastructure capital and urges US-focused investments in energy, nuclear, and semiconductor capacity to retain AI leadership.

Why it matters

OpenAI submitted comments to the NTIA on 2024-11-04 noting its forecast that constructing and operating a single 5 GW data center could create or support about 40,000 jobs and add $17–$20 billion to a state’s GDP.

Key details

  • OpenAI warns about $175 billion in global infrastructure funds waiting to be committed and says if those flows don't back US projects they may go to China-backed projects that could entrench autocratic power.
  • The letter ties US AI leadership to past broadband policy (citing the 1996 Telecommunications Act), and urges investment in AI infrastructure—cleaner energy grids, nuclear power, and domestic semiconductor manufacturing—to spur reindustrialization and competitiveness.
Source evidence

title: OpenAI’s comments to the NTIA on data center growth, resilience, and security
contenttype: article
publication: OpenAI
published: 2024-11-04T00:00:00
sourceurl: https://openai.com/global-affairs/comments-to-the-ntia-on-data-center-growth-resilience-and-security

word_count: 397

OpenAI’s comments to the NTIA on data center growth, resilience, and security

This comment was submitted in response to a request for information from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

OpenAI welcomes the opportunity to respond to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Request for Comments on “Bolstering Data Center Growth, Resilience, and Security.”

The United States leads the world today in development of artificial intelligence because of decisions decades ago to install fiber-optic cables, coaxial lines and other broadband infrastructure that put the country at the forefront of the early digital revolution. The 1996 Telecommunications Act, with bipartisan support from forward-thinking lawmakers, reinforced the infrastructure as a national strategy, and the country’s resulting leadership in AI has underscored that infrastructure is destiny.

As revolutionary as electricity, and promising similarly distributed access and benefits, AI can power a reindustrialization across the US, extend its global competitiveness, and boost national, state and household finances for the long term. Investment to extend the US lead in AI can yield tens of thousands of jobs; significant growth in GDP; a modernized, cleaner energy grid and energy policy featuring nuclear power; and a state-of-the art network of semiconductor manufacturing facilities – invigorating local economies across the country.

With an estimated $175 billion in global infrastructure funds waiting to be committed, the question is not whether that funding will flow, but where. If it doesn’t flow into US-backed global infrastructure projects that advance a global AI that spreads the technology’s benefits to the most people possible, then it will flow to China-backed projects that leverage AI to cement and expand autocratic power. There is no third option(opens in a new window).

OpenAI recently engaged outside experts to forecast potential job gains and GDP growth that would result from building 5GW data centers in a sampling of states. We found(opens in a new window) that constructing and operating a single 5GW data center could create or support about 40,000 jobs – in construction and maintenance, restaurants and retail, and other industries that would serve the new workers — and contribute between $17 billion and $20 billion to a state’s GDP.

These numbers highlight the importance of getting data center policy right. To that end, we provide the following feedback to help policymakers invest in AI infrastructure growth, resilience and security.

Read OpenAI’s full comment letter here(opens in a new window).