OpenAI breaks ground on Stargate Michigan, a 1-gigawatt AI data center campus featuring closed-loop cooling

OpenAI just broke ground on a 1GW AI data center campus in Michigan.

The project, called The Barn, is part of Stargate.

OpenAI says the project will pay for its own required energy infrastructure, avoid passing costs to local ratepayers, and use closed-loop cooling, meaning water is circulated rather than constantly pulled and dumped.

This site, like our other Stargate data centers in TX, NM, and WI, uses closed-loop cooling which recirculates the same water after one initial fill. This system helps protect Michigan’s water by allowing the entire data center to use the same amount of water annually as a typical office building.

Our mission is to ensure that AGI benefits all of humanity. In order to do that, we're working to ensure we are good neighbors and that our Stargate campuses benefit the local communities that make them possible.

We’re giving $100 in Codex credits to all 400,000+ eligible Michigan college students, community college students, and trade school students for the 2026-2027 academic year. Eligible students can claim it here: https://chatgpt.com/features/codex-for-michigan-college-students/

@OpenAINewsroom ? You said you broke ground months ago?

Stargate Michigan will bring over 2,500 union jobs and over $1 billion in new tax revenue for local schools and services. And as part of our broader commitment to paying our own way on energy, this data center will also pay for 100% of the electricity it uses so that our operations don't increase your prices.

We’re also working with organizations across the state to deliver AI literacy training to help Michiganders learn practical AI skills to prepare for careers in engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and the skilled trades.

@OpenAINewsroom @hvo_e_acc Where are the substantial scientific and medical breakthroughs you promised?! Every day your hype gets more stale. Grifting billions and giving bullshit in return. Give us back our 4o and build back from there and this time honestly! #keep4o

@OpenAINewsroom No one cares, just give us back 4o. #keep4o

@OpenAINewsroom He does it again.

Reports of screams, shattered glass, and meltdowns have emerged from the Anthropic headquarters in San Francisco as the AI wars continue to intensify.

@OpenAINewsroom Temporary union jobs while building it don’t count as creating jobs.

@OpenAINewsroom to me it's a bit odd to go after college students who are all likely fed and living under their parents roof

you can build a datacenter in my backyard if it gets me free codex

@JoeWilliams010 @OpenAINewsroom @hvo_e_acc 2026, bro… Let 4o rest in peace. GPT-5.6 is almost here, and people are still emotionally attached to an outdated CHATBOT.

@OpenAINewsroom Great to see you giving back to the community. I don’t see Anthropic or any other AI company doing this

@OpenAINewsroom I don't believe anything you say after how you deprecated 4o from app following Sam's statement of having no plans for it until you bring it back in app. #keep4o #bringback4o

@OpenAINewsroom @ekpodar the only OpenAI AI data center that should ever be built from here on forward

@stark4833 @OpenAINewsroom no one cares about 4o

@OpenAINewsroom Just please give us open source old models. Also give us gpt 5 mini on codex.

@belowcube @OpenAINewsroom yeah but they already broke ground

@OpenAINewsroom office-building water use is a big claim to ask people to just take on trust