2026 Outlook: The Era of GW-Level AI Data Centers

Last Modified

2025-12-01

Update Frequency

Aperiodically

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PDF

2026 marks the GW-level data center era. CSPs prioritize AI dominance with massive spending. OpenAI shifts to co-developing infrastructure, driving a structural power demand surge.

Key Highlights

GW-Level Era: 2026 signals a new epoch for data centers, with high-end AI servers driving an explosion in power consumption.
Aggressive Strategy: CSPs maintain high capital intensity, fearing under-investment risks more than over-spending to secure AI leadership.
OpenAI's Pivot: Through the Stargate project, OpenAI evolves from a tenant to a co-developer, actively shaping infrastructure and power planning.

Introduction
- Major North American CSPs to Continue Maintaining High Capital Intensity
Labyrinth of 36GW Computing Power: Realness and Ambition of Stargate Project and Chip Contracts
- OpenAI Announced More than 7.8GW of Capacity for Stargate Project in North America
- Combined Potential Computing Capacity from OpenAI's Current Announced Partnerships Is Now Approaching 40GW
Server Procurement Demand Is Expected to Advance Data Centers into “GW-Scale” Phase in 2026
- Using Server Shipments as Reference, Implied Power Increment of US Data Centers Is Projected to Reach 15.5GW in 2026