tech
January 9, 2026
OpenAI and SoftBank Group partner with SB Energy
Redwood City, CA, Jan. 9, 2026—SB Energy(opens in a new window), a SoftBank Group company, announced today a strategic partnership with OpenAI as part of Stargate(opens in a new window), marking a significant step forward in the build out of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure in the United States. The investment builds on the $500 billion Stargate commitment announced in January at the White House.
TL;DR
- SoftBank Group and OpenAI are investing $500 million each into SB Energy, totaling $1 billion.
- OpenAI has signed a 1.2 GW data center lease for its initial data center buildout.
- SB Energy will become a major customer of OpenAI, using its APIs and ChatGPT.
- SB Energy has also secured $800 million in Redeemable Preferred Equity from Ares.
- A preferred partnership has been formed to develop a new model for data center builds, combining OpenAI's design with SB Energy's expertise.
- The Milam County Data Center will minimize water usage and include new generation to support its energy needs.
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