Bigger Than a Small Country: A Huge AI Data Center Coming To This City

The $1 Trillion Bet: Why This Data Center Will Decide AI’s Future

On Thursday, OpenAI announced a groundbreaking partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to launch the first international deployment of Stargate, its AI infrastructure platform, in Abu Dhabi. This project is set to become the world’s largest AI data center.

The collaboration involves the construction of a one-gigawatt AI computing cluster in Abu Dhabi, with 200MW expected to be operational by 2026. OpenAI described Stargate as a new venture aimed at investing $500 billion over the next four years to develop AI infrastructure in the United States.

Stargate represents a long-term vision to build cutting-edge compute capabilities worldwide, ensuring the safe, secure, and broadly beneficial development of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

The initiative is supported by G42, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank, aligning with the UAE's earlier pledge to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. This investment aims to drive economic growth, create jobs, and maintain America’s leadership in technology.

Stargate UAE will offer AI infrastructure and computing power to a vast area, covering a 2,000-mile radius and reaching nearly half of the global population.

Under this agreement, the UAE will be the first country to provide nationwide access to ChatGPT, granting its citizens access to OpenAI's technology.

The deal follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tour of the Middle East, during which several new AI-related agreements were made, including the Stargate project in Abu Dhabi.

Looking ahead, OpenAI expressed its intention to expand Stargate projects to other countries, noting that they are already in discussions with nations interested in building similar infrastructure. Last year, OpenAI also expressed support for India’s AI mission and application development efforts.

Microsoft’s Shocking 30% Code Automation Revealed

Amid debates about AI rendering coding obsolete, Aparna Chennapragada, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer, argues that computer science remains crucial, even as AI transforms programming practices.

Speaking on a podcast, she countered claims that coding is dying, asserting that AI represents the next evolution in software development, akin to past shifts from low-level languages like Assembly or C to higher-level abstractions.

She envisions future engineers as “software operators” (SOs) who leverage AI tools but still rely on core computer science principles, emphasizing that coding’s essence—problem-solving and logical thinking—endures.

However, this optimism contrasts with Microsoft’s recent layoffs of 6,000 employees, including a significant portion of software engineers. Reports indicate over 40% of cuts in Washington state targeted engineering roles, coinciding with internal pushes for AI-driven coding.

For instance, VP Jeff Hulse encouraged his team to use OpenAI tools for up to 50% of code generation, only for many engineers to be laid off shortly after.

CEO Satya Nadella has praised AI’s role in boosting productivity, with some projects now using 30% AI-generated code, yet this efficiency gain raises concerns about job displacement.

Chennapragada also addressed project management’s evolving role, suggesting AI’s rapid prototyping capabilities will demand sharper curatorial skills to sift through abundant ideas.

Ironically, Microsoft’s layoffs also affected product and technical program managers, despite her claims that their roles would adapt rather than disappear. This tension highlights the complex interplay between AI’s promise to “democratize” coding and its disruptive impact on the tech industry employment.

Why Optus Says Robots Can’t Replace Humans?

Optus CEO Stephen Rue, who assumed leadership in November 2023 following a tumultuous period marked by a major data breach and a nationwide network outage, asserts that artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly shape the telecom sector’s future but stresses that human expertise remains indispensable.

Despite AI’s potential to enhance customer experience, fault detection, and personalized service delivery, Rue emphasizes that critical decisions in areas like field operations, creative strategy, and customer support will continue to rely on human judgment.

Since joining the National Broadband Network (NBN), Rue has prioritized rebuilding trust, streamlining governance, and bolstering network resilience. He highlights efforts to simplify operations, manage costs, and maintain competitive offerings.

While acknowledging progress in Australia’s broadband infrastructure, he notes that policy debates around the NBN have diminished as focus shifts to expanding mobile coverage, particularly in remote areas.

Rue supports leveraging low-earth orbit satellites (e.g., Starlink) to bridge connectivity gaps, an initiative he aims to advance through collaboration with the government.

Optus’s financial results for the year ending March 2025 reflect recovery, with a 5.7% rise in EBITDA to $2.2 billion and 238,000 new mobile subscribers, including 52,000 postpaid additions.

Rue’s strategy balances AI-driven efficiency with human-centric roles, underscoring a vision where technology complements rather than replaces workforce capabilities.

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