Elon Musk sparked controversy by questioning the feasibility of a new AI infrastructure initiative announced by Donald Trump, which promises to invest up to $500 billion. Musk, commenting on X (formerly Twitter), claimed the companies involved lack the necessary funds. “They don’t actually have the money,” Musk stated, specifically targeting SoftBank, saying it has “well under $10B secured.”
The initiative, dubbed Stargate, was unveiled at the White House with key industry leaders, including SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Oracle’s Larry Ellison. The venture plans to deploy $100 billion immediately, focusing on constructing advanced data centers and campuses to solidify America’s leadership in AI.
Altman quickly refuted Musk’s claims, calling them “wrong” and hinting that Musk’s criticism stemmed from personal business rivalries. In a follow-up post, Altman extended an invitation for Musk to visit the first construction site in Texas. “This is great for the country,” Altman wrote, suggesting that Musk, in his new leadership role, should prioritize national interests over personal competition.
The public exchange highlights potential internal tensions within the tech industry as the U.S. ramps up its AI efforts. Whether Stargate will deliver on its ambitious goals remains to be seen.
