OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Eyes Space for AI Data Centers

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is reportedly exploring options that could see artificial intelligence extending beyond Earth. He is considering a significant investment in a Seattle-based rocket venture, Stoke Space, to potentially rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Discussions about this investment have been ongoing since summer and intensified in the fall. Altman envisions using AI data centers in space where solar panels could harness sunlight to alleviate the increasing demands on Earth’s energy resources. This proposal is particularly timely given the rapidly rising need for AI data centers, with over 5,000 facilities in operation across the United States. Goldman Sachs forecasted a staggering increase in electricity demand, predicting a 50 percent rise by 2027 and up to 165 percent by 2030.

Altman recently acknowledged the growing challenges posed by these data centers in a podcast, stating, “Over time, I think we’re going to end up with a large portion of the world covered in data centers.” While his comments hint at pressing issues, he also suggested that some of these centers could exist in space—though more specifics would have been welcome.

This drive to solve data center issues in space isn’t a new obsession for Altman. Previously, he proposed the concept of building Dyson spheres to capture energy from the sun. Investing in Stoke Space, which is working on a reusable medium-lift rocket named Nova to compete directly with SpaceX’s Falcon 9, might be a major step toward making this vision a reality.

However, a deal between OpenAI and Stoke Space could further escalate the tension between Altman and Musk. Their feud traces back to differing views on the future of OpenAI. By entering the space sector, Altman may be attempting to tackle both the environmental consequences of AI data centers and Musk’s preeminence in the industry.