Nvidia Commits $1.5 Billion to SB Energy in Major OpenAI Data Center Push

Nvidia will invest $1.5 billion in SoftBank backed SB Energy as part of a deal that gives the chipmaker access to up to 8 gigawatts of AI computing capacity at an Ohio campus currently under development for OpenAI.

The arrangement marks the latest example of Nvidia putting money directly into companies that consume its own chips, a pattern that has helped drive demand for its hardware while also raising questions about circular financial arrangements between the chipmaker and its largest customers.

Chips, Power, and Data Centers Converge

Major technology companies are increasingly bundling together semiconductors, electricity supply, and data center construction as they compete to secure the infrastructure needed to run increasingly demanding AI systems. Nvidia has already secured land and power access at the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus in Ohio for a facility that will run on its graphics processors and networking hardware, with initial capacity set at 4.25 gigawatts.

SB Energy’s Broader Buildout Plans

SB Energy and parent company SoftBank intend to construct at least 10 gigawatts of new power generation capacity and invest $4.2 billion into Ohio’s grid infrastructure to support the growing demand from AI data centers. SB Energy, which also counts OpenAI among its backers, specializes in developing large-scale power and data center projects. Founded in 2019, the company is currently building multiple data center campuses aimed at meeting rising AI workload demand.