Redwood City, CA, January 9, 2026 – SB Energy, a company within the SoftBank Group, has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI as part of the Stargate initiative, marking a major advancement in the development of next-generation artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure across the United States. The collaboration builds on the $500 billion Stargate commitment unveiled earlier this year at the White House. As part of the agreement, both OpenAI and SoftBank Group are each investing $500 million in SB Energy. This funding will support SB Energy’s mission to become a leading developer and operator of large-scale data center campuses and their associated energy systems. The investment underscores the growing need for reliable, high-capacity infrastructure to meet the surging demand for AI compute. OpenAI has also selected SB Energy to design, build, and operate its previously announced 1.2 gigawatt (GW) data center project in Milam County, Texas. This facility will be a cornerstone of OpenAI’s long-term compute strategy, enabling the company to scale its AI capabilities efficiently and sustainably. OpenAI co-founder and President Greg Brockman said, “Partnering with SB Energy brings together their proven strength in data center infrastructure and energy development with OpenAI’s deep expertise in data center engineering. The result is a fast, reliable, and highly optimized approach to scaling compute through large, purpose-built AI data centers.” SB Energy co-CEO Rich Hossfeld added, “This partnership with OpenAI accelerates our ability to deliver advanced AI data center campuses and integrated energy infrastructure at the scale necessary to support Stargate and secure America’s leadership in AI. We are grateful to our long-time sponsor, SoftBank Group, and to OpenAI for their trust and investment in our platform, our team, and our vision for the future.” The collaboration has also established a non-exclusive preferred partnership between OpenAI, SoftBank Group, and SB Energy. This new model combines OpenAI’s in-house data center design with SB Energy’s track record in speed, cost efficiency, and integrated energy delivery, enabling the rapid deployment of high-performance AI infrastructure. Each project will include a strong community commitment, with investments in well-paying jobs, workforce development programs, and grid modernization to ensure long-term economic benefits for local areas. The Milam County data center is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs and will be designed to minimize water usage, a critical consideration in Texas. In addition, SB Energy plans to build new power generation capacity to support the data center’s energy needs, helping to ensure grid stability and protect ratepayers in the region. The first facilities are currently under construction and are scheduled to begin operations starting in 2026.