Nvidia is in discussions to provide a financial guarantee of approximately $250 billion for OpenAI as part of a planned artificial intelligence data centre project in Ohio, a move that could become one of the largest financing arrangements in the AI industry.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the guarantee would support OpenAI’s lease of a proposed 10-gigawatt data centre campus being developed in southern Ohio by SoftBank’s energy subsidiary.
The project is expected to cost more than $500 billion when completed, including the Nvidia chips required to equip the facilities.
The report said Nvidia’s guarantee would help the developer obtain debt financing on more favourable terms by addressing lenders’ concerns over OpenAI’s lack of an investment-grade credit rating.
The proposed guarantee would apply to the project’s lease and construction financing but would not cover the purchase of Nvidia’s AI chips.
In a separate arrangement, Nvidia is also reportedly discussing financing for OpenAI’s chip purchases, which could amount to around $350 billion.
The first phase of the development is expected to provide approximately 800 megawatts of power and is targeted for completion in 2028.
The discussions remain ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached. According to the report, the negotiations could still fail to result in a deal.
