OpenAI Seeks U.S. Government Support

Staff Reporter | PNN

OpenAI recently sent a letter to the U.S. government proposing support for the company’s large-scale data center construction project. The letter was written by OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane and addressed to Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

In the letter, OpenAI proposed an expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC), which currently provides a 30% tax credit under the CHIPS Act. The company wants this credit to apply not only to semiconductors but also to electricity grid components, AI servers, and AI data center construction. Lehane wrote: “Expanding AMIC will reduce effective capital costs, lower initial investment risks, attract private capital, and accelerate AI development.”

The letter also suggested that the government should expedite approvals and environmental review processes for such projects and create a strategic reserve of raw materials, including copper, aluminum, and processed rare earth minerals.

Although OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar had previously said at a Wall Street Journal event that the government should “backstop” the company’s infrastructure loans, she later clarified on LinkedIn: “We are not asking for a government backstop. I misspoke.”

CEO Sam Altman also emphasized: “OpenAI does not want any government guarantee for its data centers. We believe the government should not pick winners or losers, nor should taxpayers rescue failing businesses.” However, he noted discussions did occur regarding loan guarantees for semiconductor factory construction.

Altman stated in the letter that OpenAI expects annual revenues of over $20 billion by 2025 and to reach $100 billion in revenue by 2030. The company plans to invest $134 billion in capital over the next eight years.

This initiative could significantly impact the expansion of AI infrastructure in the U.S., though OpenAI has clarified that it does not seek direct government financial aid or guarantees.