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OpenAI’s Cash Burn Projected to Hit $115B by 2029 Amid Chip, Data Center Push

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OpenAI has revised its financial outlook sharply upward, projecting it will burn through $115 billion by 2029, according to The Information. The new figure is about $80 billion higher than its earlier estimate, reflecting the surging costs of powering ChatGPT and other AI models.

The report says OpenAI expects to lose over $8 billion in 2024 alone, roughly $1.5 billion more than forecast earlier this year. The company anticipates that annual burn will balloon to $17 billion next year, rising to $35 billion in 2027 and $45 billion in 2028.

To rein in costs, OpenAI is pursuing vertical integration—developing its own AI server chips and data center infrastructure. Its first in-house chip, being developed in partnership with Broadcom, is expected in 2025 and will be used internally. On the infrastructure side, OpenAI has struck major agreements, including:

  • A $4.5 GW data center expansion with Oracle announced in July.

  • The Stargate project, a planned $500 billion, 10 GW buildout backed by SoftBank.

  • Expanded computing capacity through Google Cloud.

The staggering burn rate underscores the immense capital intensity of generative AI, where costs for cloud computing, GPUs, and electricity are skyrocketing. At the same time, it highlights OpenAI’s strategy to reduce reliance on external providers like Nvidia and Amazon Web Services by building a proprietary AI stack—from chips to data centers.

Equinix Signs Multiple Advanced Nuclear Deals to Power Data Centers

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Equinix (EQIX.O), a leading data center developer and operator, announced on Thursday that it has entered into multiple advanced nuclear electricity deals, including power purchase agreements for fission energy and preorders for microreactors to support its operations.

The energy-intensive nature of data centers, especially with the growing adoption of technologies like generative artificial intelligence, has driven demand for large-scale electricity, raising concerns over power supply shortages. Equinix’s agreements aim to secure long-term electricity solutions rather than short-term fixes, according to Raouf Abdel, the company’s executive vice president of global operations.

In the U.S., Equinix plans to procure 500 megawatts of power from Oklo’s next-generation nuclear fission reactors and preordered 20 transportable microreactors from Radiant Nuclear. In Europe, the company has deals with ULC-Energy and Stellaria to eventually source power from next-generation nuclear developers. Equinix has also signed advanced fuel cell agreements with Bloom Energy, based in Silicon Valley.

These initiatives align with the U.S. Department of Energy’s pilot program for high-tech test nuclear reactors, which aims to have three projects operational within a year. The deals with advanced nuclear providers are expected to supply more than 1 gigawatt of electricity to Equinix’s data centers globally.

Google to Invest $9 Billion in AI and Cloud Infrastructure in Oklahoma

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Alphabet’s Google announced Wednesday that it will spend an additional $9 billion in Oklahoma over the next two years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The plan includes building a new data center campus in Stillwater and expanding the existing facility in Pryor, alongside education and workforce programs.

The investment comes amid intensifying competition among Big Tech companies, which are spending heavily on new data centers and skills development to meet surging AI demand. Part of the $9 billion is included in Google’s 2025 capital expenditure plan, with the remainder earmarked for future projects.

Last month, Alphabet raised its annual capital spending target to $85 billion from $75 billion and indicated more increases could follow next year. The company and its peers have justified large AI investments as necessary for growth and product improvement, particularly amid competition from Chinese tech firms and investor concerns over slower returns.

In addition, Google committed $1 billion last week to AI education and training for U.S. universities and nonprofit organizations. Over 100 universities have joined the initiative, including major public institutions such as Texas A&M and the University of North Carolina. Competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Amazon have launched similar AI-focused education programs.

U.S. policy also supports onshoring of AI infrastructure, prompting investments by companies such as Micron, Nvidia, and CoreWeave. Apple similarly announced plans last week to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.