Softbank unveils $33 billion ai hub in ohio, aiming to power trump's tech ambitions

SoftBank is racing to build a massive AI data center hub in Ohio, a move that could be a game-changer for President Trump's tech ambitions.

Ai powerhouse in the heartland

The Japanese conglomerate plans to invest around $33 billion in the project, which will be powered by natural gas and could be operational by the end of the decade.

Located on former uranium enrichment land owned by the US Department of Energy, the complex will have a capacity to consume 10 gigawatts of energy, making it one of the largest AI data centers in the world.

SoftBank aims to start with 800 megawatts of power capacity in the first phase, which is expected to cost between $30 billion and $40 billion and be ready by early 2028, according to Rich Hossfeld, co-CEO of SB Energy.

The project is part of a $550 billion fund agreed upon by the US and Japan as part of a deal that saw Trump lower tariffs on Japanese autos and other goods.

Trump's administration has been pushing tech companies to assume the costs of their data centers, which often strain local resources like water and electricity.

But SoftBank's massive investment could help alleviate some of those concerns, while also positioning the US as a major player in the global AI race against China.