Argentina could become the first country in Latin America with a Stargate project: a large AI data center infrastructure that, according to OpenAI, will be explored in collaboration with the local company Sur Energy. This announcement comes alongside a letter of intent to evaluate building a data center powered by clean energy, aiming to position the country as a regional AI hub. (openai.com)
What exactly was announced
OpenAI and Sur Energy signed a Letter of Intent to explore a Stargate project in Argentina, in talks that included President Javier Milei, members of his cabinet, and an OpenAI delegation led by Chris Lehane. Sur Energy would be the developer for energy and infrastructure and would be responsible for forming a consortium with a cloud developer. The official announcement was published by OpenAI on October 14, 2025. (openai.com)
"This milestone is more than infrastructure; it’s about putting AI in the hands of more people in Argentina." Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. (openai.com)
Why should this matter to you if you live in Argentina or the region?
First, local infrastructure means lower latency and potentially cheaper services for Argentine companies and developers. Can you imagine a startup launching AI products with lower infrastructure costs? That’s exactly the point.
Second, the project plans to use renewable energy, linking electrical capacity with digital development. Sur Energy talks about combining energy and tech resources to generate skilled jobs and attract international investment. (openai.com)
Third, OpenAI highlights that millions of Argentines use ChatGPT weekly and that adoption tripled in the last year, with especially high use among adults 18 to 34. Argentina also ranks among Latin American countries with the highest developer activity around OpenAI tools. Those numbers aren’t just statistics — they’re a real base of local talent ready to work with this infrastructure. (openai.com)
Concrete opportunities
-
Technical and non-technical jobs: from data center engineers to roles in operations, finance, and technical training.
-
Startup ecosystem: lower deployment costs for models, access to data, and cloud services closer to home.
-
Government and public services: OpenAI mentions the [OpenAI for Countries] initiative to boost adoption within public administrations, with potential efficiency gains and better citizen services. (openai.com)
Risks and open questions
Who controls the data and how is digital sovereignty protected? Having data centers on national soil doesn’t automatically solve governance or privacy issues. What conditions will the government require from international partners? Will there be clauses guaranteeing local access to the infrastructure?
There’s also the energy dimension: a large data center demands a lot of power. The idea of using renewable energy is positive, but you should ask how it will integrate with the grid and what impact it will have on other energy uses in the region. These are technical and political questions society must watch closely. (openai.com)
What entrepreneurs, developers and authorities can do now
-
Entrepreneurs: explore how to lower your costs with local deployments and what new products you could build with reduced latency.
-
Developers: strengthen skills in model deployment, MLOps, and security. If Argentina consolidates infrastructure, technical demand will grow.
-
Authorities and civil society: demand transparency in contracts, environmental impact assessments, and clear data protection frameworks.
Final reflection
If the Stargate proposal in Argentina happens, it’s not just a data center. It’s an opportunity for the country to accelerate technological capacity, create skilled jobs, and lower barriers for people who want to build with AI. But it’s not automatic or free: smart regulation, social oversight, and training are needed so benefits reach more people. Is Argentina ready to seize it responsibly and with a long-term vision? The answer depends on decisions made in the coming months. (openai.com)