The Billion-Dollar Deals Powering the AI Infrastructure Boom
As the AI revolution accelerates, companies are racing not only to develop advanced AI models but also to build the infrastructure needed to support them. Running AI models requires immense computing power, and tech giants are investing heavily in data centers, cloud services, and specialized hardware. According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, between $3 trillion and $4 trillion could be spent on AI infrastructure by 2030.
From Meta to OpenAI, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google, the AI boom is reshaping the tech landscape—and straining power grids along the way. Here’s a look at the largest AI infrastructure projects currently underway.
Microsoft’s $1 Billion Bet on OpenAI
The modern AI boom arguably began with Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019. This partnership made Microsoft the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI, giving the company access to AI workloads while helping OpenAI cover its largest expense: cloud computing.
Over time, Microsoft expanded its support, investing nearly $14 billion through cash and Azure cloud credits. This strategic partnership not only boosted Microsoft Azure sales but also positioned the company as a leader in AI infrastructure.
While OpenAI recently ended its exclusive cloud arrangement with Microsoft, the companies maintain a close relationship. OpenAI now has the flexibility to work with other cloud providers while giving Microsoft a right of first refusal for future infrastructure needs.
Other AI companies have followed a similar model:
Anthropic secured $8 billion from Amazon, optimizing hardware for AI workloads.
Google Cloud became a computing partner for smaller AI firms like Lovable and Windsurf.
Nvidia invested $100 billion in OpenAI to provide GPUs for AI training, further expanding capacity.
Oracle’s Massive AI Deals
Oracle has emerged as a major player in AI infrastructure. In June 2025, the company signed a $30 billion cloud services deal with OpenAI, surpassing its total cloud revenue for the previous fiscal year.
Just months later, Oracle announced an even larger $300 billion, five-year compute deal with OpenAI, set to begin in 2027. While OpenAI doesn’t currently have $300 billion to spend, the deal reflects investor confidence in the growth of AI infrastructure.
These partnerships have boosted Oracle’s position as a leading provider of AI cloud solutions, proving that large-scale investments in infrastructure can quickly reshape the market.
Meta’s Hyperscale Data Center Expansion
Meta is taking a different approach, heavily investing in its own infrastructure. Mark Zuckerberg revealed plans to spend $600 billion on U.S. infrastructure by 2028, with a significant portion allocated to AI projects.
Louisiana Hyperion Project
Size: 2,250 acres
Cost: $10 billion
Power: 5 gigawatts, supported by a local nuclear plant
Ohio Prometheus Project
Operational Date: 2026
Power Source: Natural gas
Meta’s infrastructure buildout illustrates the massive energy demands of AI. Elon Musk’s xAI also built a hybrid data center in Tennessee, generating significant emissions due to natural gas turbines—highlighting environmental concerns associated with AI expansion.
The Stargate Moonshot
In a high-profile collaboration, SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle announced Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative in the U.S. Overseen by former President Trump, the project aimed to build the largest AI infrastructure network in history.
The plan involved SoftBank funding the project, Oracle handling construction, and OpenAI providing AI expertise. However, Bloomberg reported delays in reaching consensus among partners. Despite this, eight data centers are under construction in Abilene, Texas, with completion expected by the end of 2026.
The Future of AI Infrastructure
The AI boom is reshaping cloud services, data centers, and computing power investments globally. Companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Meta, and Nvidia are leading the charge, while new ventures like Stargate aim to revolutionize AI infrastructure further.
As AI continues to grow, expect trillions of dollars in investments, new hyperscale data centers, and cutting-edge cloud solutions to power the next generation of AI technologies.