⚖️OpenAI pushing government for investment in infrastructure

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OpenAI Pushes for Federal Support in Data Center Expansion

OpenAI has urged the U.S. government to expand the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) to include AI servers, data centers, and critical electrical grid components — not just semiconductors. In a letter to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, OpenAI’s Chris Lehane argued that broadening the 35% tax credit would “lower the cost of capital and de-risk early investment” in U.S. AI infrastructure. The company also requested faster permitting and environmental reviews and the creation of a strategic reserve of key materials like copper, aluminum, and rare earth minerals.

A Bid to Shape Industrial Policy for the AI Era

OpenAI’s proposal underscores a shift in the AI race from algorithms to infrastructure. The company’s lobbying reflects how AI development now hinges on access to energy, compute, and materials— the new strategic triad of technological power. Despite confusion over CFO Sarah Friar’s “backstop” comment, both she and CEO Sam Altman later clarified that OpenAI isn’t seeking government guarantees, only policy alignment that encourages private capital investment in AI infrastructure. The company’s forecast — $20 billion in annualized revenue by 2025 and $1.4 trillion in capital commitments — signals its intent to build at a scale comparable to national infrastructure projects.

Reading the Signals Behind the Lobbying

For startup founders, this is a reminder that AI isn’t just a software play anymore — it’s an industrial one. OpenAI’s lobbying hints at the coming wave of public-private partnerships and subsidies that could reshape how AI companies access compute and power. Founders building infrastructure-adjacent products — from energy optimization tools to chip cooling systems — should watch these policy shifts closely, as government incentives may soon expand beyond semiconductors. Meanwhile, smaller AI companies should prepare for an environment where capital efficiency, infrastructure partnerships, and regulatory agility matter as much as model performance. The next big AI advantage may not be better code — it may be cheaper electricity.

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