Westlake, September 29, 2025
News Summary
Texas officials announced at a statewide investor summit that the state is expected to see significant AI-related investments, potentially exceeding $500 billion linked to the Stargate Project. Governor Greg Abbott highlighted the need for economic diversification and noted upcoming AI investments that could reshape local economies and create jobs. The Stargate initiative, which includes partnerships with Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank, aims to develop additional data centers in Texas, significantly boosting job creation and technological infrastructure in the area.
Westlake, Texas — Texas is poised to receive a significant increase in AI-related investments that could exceed the $500 billion Stargate Project, state officials said at a statewide investor summit. The announcement, delivered at Hillwood’s Circle T Ranch, framed a potential wave of new projects that state leaders expect will reshape local economies and expand technology infrastructure across the state.
Key announcement and immediate implications
Governor Greg Abbott made the remarks at the Texas Economic Development Corp investor summit held at Hillwood’s Circle T Ranch in Westlake. He emphasized the need to diversify Texas’s economy and mentioned upcoming AI-related investments that are not yet announced. State leadership framed artificial intelligence as a primary area for economic diversification and highlighted several pending developments that state officials expect will be larger than existing projects.
How the Stargate Project fits into the picture
The White House had previously announced the Stargate Project, which commenced in Abilene, Texas, about 150 miles west of Fort Worth. As part of that initiative, Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank revealed plans to invest $400 billion over the next three years to establish five additional AI data centers in the U.S. as part of the Stargate initiative. Texas will play a major role, with data centers planned in Shackleford County and Milam County.
Technical capacity and timeline
Once operational, the five additional data centers will boost Project Stargate’s capacity to nearly seven gigawatts. OpenAI aims for the overall project to reach a total capacity of 10 gigawatts within four years through its $500 billion investment plan. Those capacity goals are tied to projected performance needs for large-scale AI models and cloud computing workloads.
Jobs and economic scale
The initiative is expected to generate over 25,000 jobs on-site, along with thousands of additional positions across the nation. The Stargate Project is described as the largest AI infrastructure project in history, projected to create more than 100,000 jobs. State officials framed the potential new Texas investments as complementary to Stargate and as part of a broader expansion of AI infrastructure and employment nationally.
Expert perspectives and cautionary notes
Peter Stone, a computer science professor, and Kishore Gawande, a business professor, expressed optimism about the advancement of AI in various sectors, including healthcare and transportation. At the same time, experts called for careful planning and thorough review as research and deployment move into new technical and regulatory territory. Stone also urged caution and thoroughness as researchers navigate new technological territories.
What this means for Texas
Abbott’s comments highlight Texas as a competitive leader in forthcoming AI investments, with officials signaling a push to attract projects that could exceed the scale of the Stargate Project. State economic development leaders said they are positioning Texas to capture large-scale infrastructure investment, create new job clusters, and diversify regional industry beyond traditional energy and manufacturing bases.
Summit setting and next steps
The investor summit at Hillwood’s Circle T Ranch served as the forum for the announcement and as a platform for additional, yet-to-be-disclosed investment plans. State economic officials said several future projects remain in planning or negotiation stages and will be announced when formal agreements are finalized. Local governments and community stakeholders will continue to be consulted on permitting, workforce development, and infrastructure needs as projects move forward.
FAQ
Q: What did Governor Greg Abbott announce?
A: Texas is poised to receive a significant increase in AI-related investments that could exceed the $500 billion Stargate Project.
Q: Where did Abbott make the announcement?
A: Abbott made these remarks at the Texas Economic Development Corp investor summit held at Hillwood’s Circle T Ranch in Westlake.
Q: What is the Stargate Project and where did it commence?
A: The White House had previously announced the Stargate Project, which commenced in Abilene, Texas, about 150 miles west of Fort Worth.
Q: What investments and data centers were announced for the Stargate initiative?
A: Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank revealed plans to invest $400 billion over the next three years to establish five additional AI data centers in the U.S. as part of the Stargate initiative.
Q: What is the expected capacity and job impact of the Stargate expansion?
A: Once operational, the five additional data centers will boost Project Stargate’s capacity to nearly seven gigawatts. OpenAI aims for the overall project to reach a total capacity of 10 gigawatts within four years through its $500 billion investment plan. The initiative is expected to generate over 25,000 jobs on-site, along with thousands of additional positions across the nation. The Stargate Project is described as the largest AI infrastructure project in history, projected to create more than 100,000 jobs.
Q: Where in Texas will data centers be located?
A: Texas will play a major role, with data centers planned in Shackleford County and Milam County.
Q: What did experts say about the developments?
A: Peter Stone, a computer science professor, and Kishore Gawande, a business professor, expressed optimism about the advancement of AI in various sectors, including healthcare and transportation. Stone also urged caution and thoroughness as researchers navigate new technological territories.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Potential statewide investment scale | Could exceed the $500 billion Stargate Project |
| Stargate announced partners | Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank |
| Stargate near-term investment | $400 billion over the next three years for five additional data centers (U.S.) |
| Texas data center locations | Shackleford County and Milam County |
| Near-term capacity increase | Nearly seven gigawatts from five additional data centers |
| Long-term capacity goal | 10 gigawatts within four years through a $500 billion investment plan |
| Job impact (on-site) | Over 25,000 jobs on-site |
| Job impact (nationwide) | Thousands of additional positions across the nation; more than 100,000 jobs projected overall |
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Additional Resources
- Dallas Express: Texas poised to lead AI innovation
- Barrons: OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank Stargate Data Centers
- KVUE: Texas AI data centers investment news
- Apple Newsroom: $500 billion investment in the US
- Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
