OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has urged world governments to take a more proactive role in developing artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, emphasizing that public investment is essential to sustain the rapidly growing demands of the AI revolution.
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Altman outlined his vision for a future where governments not only build but also own AI infrastructure, ensuring that the benefits flow directly to the public. “What we do think might make sense is governments building (and owning) their own AI infrastructure, but then the upside of that should flow to the government as well,” Altman wrote.
The remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of OpenAI’s financial model and the immense costs associated with AI development. The ChatGPT-maker — now the world’s most valuable private company — has been racing to expand its computing capacity, even as questions rise about the sustainability of its long-term spending.
Altman’s statement followed controversy sparked by OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, who suggested at a recent business conference that the U.S. government could help fund AI infrastructure by guaranteeing corporate loans. The comment drew widespread criticism, prompting Friar to retract her statement, calling it “poorly phrased.” Altman later clarified, “We do not have or want government guarantees for OpenAI datacenters. We believe governments should not pick winners or losers, and that taxpayers should not bail out companies that make bad business decisions.”
He reaffirmed that OpenAI will remain privately accountable for its risks and investments. “If we screw up and can’t fix it, we should fail, and other companies will continue doing good work,” Altman said, signaling a commitment to fair competition in the AI sector.
Still, Altman’s post highlighted the urgent need for national AI strategies — especially in light of current compute shortages that have forced OpenAI and competitors to delay feature rollouts. He argued that a “strategic national reserve of computing power” could help governments safeguard technological sovereignty and prevent bottlenecks in innovation.
The CEO revealed that OpenAI expects to surpass $20 billion in annualized revenue this year, with future projections reaching hundreds of billions by 2030. These growth forecasts are tied to upcoming initiatives in consumer devices, robotics, and AI-driven scientific research. However, to achieve this, the company anticipates infrastructure investments of around $1.4 trillion over the next eight years — including a $300 billion partnership with Oracle and a $500 billion Stargate project with Oracle and SoftBank, announced earlier this year at the White House.
Altman’s appeal underscores the strategic and geopolitical importance of AI infrastructure, likening it to the power grids and telecommunications networks that fueled earlier industrial revolutions. “The risk of insufficient computing power outweighs the risk of overbuilding,” he wrote, calling AI infrastructure a critical asset for both economic growth and scientific advancement.
As the global race for AI dominance intensifies, Altman’s call signals a pivotal moment — one where public and private sectors may need to collaborate more closely than ever to ensure the future of AI remains sustainable, accessible, and beneficial to humanity.
