OpenAI is pushing the federal government to expand the Chips Act’s tax incentives beyond semiconductor manufacturing to support AI infrastructure, including data centers and servers. In a letter to the White House’s science and technology policy office, OpenAI argued that broadening the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) could lower capital costs, attract private investment, and speed up the construction of AI projects in the U.S.
The AMIC currently offers a 35% tax credit for semiconductor fabrication under the Biden administration’s Chips Act. OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, highlighted that extending the credit to cover electrical grid components, AI servers, and data centers could help alleviate bottlenecks in building the country’s AI infrastructure. The letter also suggested accelerating permitting processes and establishing a strategic reserve of raw materials such as copper, aluminum, and rare earth minerals.
While the letter was first published in late October, it gained attention this week after OpenAI executives made public comments about government support. CFO Sarah Friar mentioned that the government should “backstop” OpenAI infrastructure loans during a Wall Street Journal event, though she later clarified on LinkedIn that the company is not seeking loan guarantees for its data centers.
CEO Sam Altman also emphasized that OpenAI does not want government guarantees for its AI infrastructure. “Governments should not pick winners or losers, and taxpayers should not bail out companies that make bad business decisions,” Altman wrote, while noting that discussions about loan guarantees have occurred in the context of semiconductor manufacturing support.
OpenAI anticipates ending 2025 with an annualized revenue run rate above $20 billion and projects growth into the hundreds of billions by 2030. The company has already committed $1.4 trillion in capital over the next eight years, reflecting its ambitious plan to expand AI infrastructure nationwide.
source: techcrunch