The president Donald Trump; Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank; Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)
President Donald Trump makes the announcement. From left to right, Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank; Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle; and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, listen to the news.(Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

It's official: Donald Trump has announced a new mega-project focused on artificial intelligence

In a surprising move, President Trump announced an AI mega project, backed by a $500 billion investment. What is Stargate, and who is involved?

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President Donald Trump, in his first major announcement after starting his second term, has unveiled an ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) project that promises to transform the technological and economic landscape of the United States. At least that much is clear from the amount of investment involved, the players involved and the overall dimensions of the project.

It is "Stargate" which starts with an initial investment of $100 billion, with a total commitment of up to $500 billion over the next four years and is to be led by SoftBank, Oracle, OpenAI and other technology giants.

Stargate's goal is to build the necessary infrastructure, including data center facilities, for the next generation of AI advances. It also seeks to bolster the country's reindustrialization and ensure strategic capabilities that protect national security. With initial sites in Texas and expansion plans, the project also highlights the shift of major tech investments to areas outside of California.

Trump and the tech giants

The launch of Stargate is not an isolated event, but a reflection of the Trump administration's commitment to tech leaders. The event was attended by key figures such as Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI; Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank; and Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle.

This group of technology leaders is just one of the industry people who have accompanied Trump in recent times. It is worth remembering that Trump's presidential inauguration ceremony was attended by Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, evidencing the close relationship between his administration and technology companies.

This rapprochement is no accident. Trump has demonstrated a clear understanding of the ongoing technological revolution and the competitive advantages it could bring to the country. His administration sees emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain as fundamental pillars for maintaining U.S. global leadership.

However, this alliance also raises questions. One of the most controversial moves was the repeal of an executive order by Joe Biden that established oversight measures for companies developing powerful AI models. This decision leaves the country without national guidelines for AI development, an area that concentrates much of the global technological power.

The gray areas

The Stargate megaproject and the Trump administration's approach to technologies do not resolve much of the gray areas humanity is facing right now with digital disruption. While the development of AI promises revolutionary breakthroughs, it also poses major challenges in terms of social, ethical and environmental impact.

First: massive investment in AI risks widening gaps in access to technology. The lack of clear regulations could favor large corporations, leaving marginalized communities and developing countries behind in accessing the benefits of these innovations.

The other issue is the use of personal data and privacy rights. AI's growing ability to analyze personal data raises serious privacy concerns. Cyber surveillance, facilitated by access to large-scale data, could conflict with citizens' fundamental rights.

Disinformation and fake news are clearly a threat to democracies, as AI has the potential to exacerbate these problems. The generation of misleading content on a large scale makes it difficult for citizens to differentiate between true and false information.

It is also time to talk about the environmental impact. The development of AI infrastructures, such as the data centers planned by Stargate, entails a huge consumption of natural resources. The use of large amounts of water and energy, including nuclear power, raises questions about the sustainability and ecological impact of these initiatives.

Where is the United States headed?

Trump's engagement with technology companies can be interpreted as a visionary strategy to ensure U.S. leadership in the technology revolution. However, it also poses significant risks if the ethical, social and environmental concerns associated with the development of these technologies are not addressed.

In his farewell address, Joe Biden warned of the dangers of a "technological oligarchy," highlighting how the concentration of power in the hands of an ultra-wealthy few could threaten democracy and fundamental rights. This scenario seems to be taking shape under the Trump administration, which has opted for deregulation that could benefit big tech at the expense of public interests. Biden's admonitions should not be lost sight of. He could be absolutely right.

With information from AFP

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