Elon Musk continues to express his skepticism towards OpenAI, taking the opportunity to also express doubts regarding the recent announcement of the Stargate project, an apparently positive initiative for the Trump administration. Musk, through a post on platform X, questioned the financial solidity of the project, stating that the promised funds would not actually be available.
The Stargate project, presented at the White House, involves an initial investment of 100 billion dollars by Softbank, OpenAI, Oracle and MGX, with a commitment to reach 500 billion in the next four years for the creation of a data center network for artificial intelligence. Musk, however, raised doubts about Softbank’s ability to honor the commitment, claiming, citing reliable sources, that the Japanese company would have less than $10 billion in liquidity. There is speculation that Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son is looking to raise capital, perhaps in partnership with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, to fund an AI chip project.
Musk’s statements come against a backdrop of tense relations with OpenAI, characterized by an ongoing legal dispute and frequent public attacks. Musk accuses the company that created ChatGPT of pursuing a potentially dangerous artificial intelligence development strategy, while OpenAI rejects the criticisms, considering them specious and instrumental. Altman initially responded to Musk’s provocations with conciliatory tones, recognizing his role as a visionary entrepreneur, but later took a more decisive position, underlining that national interests may not coincide with those of Musk’s companies.
The Stargate project, whose construction has already begun in Texas, involves the creation of an advanced technological infrastructure on a national scale, with possible expansion to other sites in the United States. The technological partners involved include Arm, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle and OpenAI itself. Altman, in a television interview, highlighted the importance of the investment and its scope, interpreting it as a signal of the confidence placed in technological progress by the promoters of the initiative.
