Nvidia is reportedly discussing a financial guarantee worth around $250 billion to support OpenAI’s planned data center project in Ohio.
The proposed agreement would represent one of the largest financing arrangements ever considered in the artificial intelligence industry, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Nvidia Could Support Major OpenAI Data Center
The potential guarantee would help OpenAI lease a large data center campus planned for southern Ohio.
The facility is expected to provide up to 10 gigawatts of computing capacity. SoftBank’s energy subsidiary is developing the project, according to people familiar with the discussions cited by the WSJ.
The total cost of the development could eventually exceed $500 billion. That estimate includes the Nvidia chips and other computing equipment required to operate the facilities.
Guarantee Could Lower Financing Costs
OpenAI does not currently hold an investment-grade credit rating. As a result, lenders may view financing such a large project as particularly risky.
Nvidia’s proposed backing could reduce those concerns and allow the project’s developer to secure debt on more favorable terms.
The guarantee would reportedly support the lease agreement and construction financing. However, it would not directly cover the purchase of Nvidia chips for the data center.
Separate $350 Billion Chip Financing Discussed
Nvidia and OpenAI are also reportedly considering a separate arrangement to finance the purchase of AI chips.
The value of those chip orders could reach approximately $350 billion, according to the WSJ.
Such an agreement would significantly expand the commercial relationship between the two companies. OpenAI relies heavily on Nvidia’s advanced processors to train and operate its artificial intelligence models.
First Phase Targeted for 2028
The first stage of the Ohio data center project is expected to provide around 800 megawatts of power.
That initial phase is currently scheduled for completion in 2028.
Future stages would substantially increase the campus’s capacity as demand for AI computing infrastructure continues to grow.
Discussions Have Not Been Finalized
The negotiations between Nvidia, OpenAI and the project’s developers remain ongoing.
No final agreement has been reached, and the proposed financing terms could still change. The deal may also fail to move forward if the parties cannot reach acceptable conditions.
For now, the reported discussions highlight the enormous amount of capital required to develop the next generation of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
