Microsoft and OpenAI to launch ‘Stargate’ supercomputer by 2028

WEB DESK: In a groundbreaking partnership, tech giants Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly joining forces to embark on a monumental data center project, projected to exceed $100 billion in expenses.

According to sources cited in a report by The Information, the collaborative effort aims to introduce a colossal artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer named “Stargate” by the year 2028.

This endeavor arises amidst a surging demand for AI data centers equipped to tackle progressively intricate tasks, propelled particularly by the emergence of generative AI technology.

Microsoft is anticipated to bear the lion’s share of the financial commitment for the venture, which dwarfs existing data center operations by a staggering factor of 100.

Situated in the United States, the envisioned supercomputer will serve as the focal point of a comprehensive, six-year initiative comprising five distinct phases, with “Stargate” representing the pinnacle achievement.

As part of the preparatory phases, Microsoft is currently in the process of crafting a smaller-scale supercomputer slated for deployment by 2026, tailored to meet OpenAI’s specifications.

One of the significant financial hurdles anticipated in the later stages of the project involves the procurement of specialised AI chips, each carrying a price tag ranging between $30,000 and $40,000, as highlighted by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Despite Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to develop proprietary computing chips, the initiative is envisaged to integrate chips from diverse suppliers.

The projected costs associated with the project are staggering, forecasted to surpass $115 billion, significantly eclipsing Microsoft’s prior annual outlays on infrastructure development.

This strategic investment underscores the tech giant’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation and infrastructure enhancement.

Notably, during the recent World Government Summit held in Dubai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman provided insights into the forthcoming GPT-5 model, touting its superiority over its predecessors across various dimensions.

Expected to represent a quantum leap in AI capabilities, GPT-5 holds the promise of approaching human-level intelligence, with preliminary assessments showcasing its proficiency in deciphering ancient languages.

Scheduled for potential release in 2024, GPT-5 is poised to incorporate cutting-edge features such as image generation via DALL-E and video synthesis via Sora, heralding a new era of AI advancement and exploration.