OpenAI launches new initiative to help countries build democratic AI infrastructure

OpenAI has introduced “OpenAI for Countries,” a new initiative within its Stargate project to support nations interested in developing democratic AI infrastructure. The company announced plans to partner with up to 10 countries or regions in the first phase. Through these collaborations, OpenAI will help build in-country data centers, provide customized ChatGPT to citizens, evolve security controls for AI models, and establish national startup funds to foster local AI ecosystems. According to OpenAI, these partnerships aim to offer an alternative to “authoritarian versions of AI” while promoting democratic principles such as freedom of choice in AI use and preventing government concentration of power. The initiative builds upon OpenAI’s existing Stargate project, which began with a supercomputing campus in Abilene, Texas, developed in partnership with Oracle and SoftBank.