Sam Altman on AI as a Vital Utility
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, compared artificial intelligence to essential utilities, emphasizing its importance for survival.
Altman shared his insights during a discussion at BlackRock’s U.S. Infrastructure Summit, where he laid out his vision for AI in front of a crowd that included politicians, union leaders, and executives.
He remarked, “People purchase it from us by the meter and can utilize it for any purpose they desire.”
In his conversation with Bayo Ogunlesi, who heads BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, Altman suggested that AI’s role could soon mirror that of life-saving services, often deemed a fundamental right.
“We’re approaching a future where intelligence will be as common as electricity or water. Individuals will have the option to buy it as needed, utilizing it however they choose,” he elaborated.
Altman noted that there’s a growing demand for a pay-as-you-go model for AI, indicating its expected rise in popularity. However, he cautioned that insufficient availability could drive costs up, potentially restricting access to the wealthy and encouraging inefficient centralized planning, which he believes often fails.
This perspective aligns with Altman’s ambitions to establish a large-scale AI infrastructure in the U.S. through the Stargate project.
The Stargate initiative, announced for rollout by early 2025, involves a $500 billion investment to create a comprehensive AI framework for OpenAI and its collaborators, aiming for completion by 2029.
The project is expected to “bring substantial economic advantages globally,” according to the official announcement. Nonetheless, currently, there’s only one data center operational, located in Abilene, Texas.
This flagship site spans about 980,000 square feet, generating over 200 megawatts of power, sufficient to run multiple NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 supercomputers.
Furthermore, another data center is anticipated to launch in Port Washington, Wisconsin, by 2028.
“If AI supply is insufficient, either it won’t be available or the prices will be exorbitant, placing it beyond the reach of most. We could end up in a scenario where only the affluent benefit, or centralized plans take over, which I think rarely works,” Altman stated at the BlackRock gathering.
He added, “Historically, the best approach in capitalism is to saturate the market, whether that’s through innovation or any other means.” This, according to him, should ideally flow through OpenAI.
