ChipsAugust 17, 2026via The Decoder
OpenAI signs record Ohio data center lease with Nvidia backing up to $105 billion
Why it matters
OpenAI's record 8GW data-center lease, backed by Nvidia's unprecedented residual-value guarantee, marks a structural shift in AI infrastructure financing. It also locks Nvidia as the exclusive supplier for one of the world's largest AI compute clusters — a vertical integration move that reshapes the chip-to-cloud stack and signals the scale at which frontier labs now operate.
Key signals
- OpenAI signs 20-year lease for 8-gigawatt data center in Ohio
- Nvidia guarantees up to $105 billion in residual value
- Nvidia becomes exclusive chip supplier for the facility
- Nine tech companies now hold ~$3 trillion in AI commitments off-balance-sheet
- Record lease for AI infrastructure
The hook
$105 billion. That's what Nvidia just guaranteed on OpenAI's Ohio megafactory — and it signals how the compute buildout is reshaping silicon strategy.
OpenAI has signed a 20-year lease for an 8-gigawatt data center in Ohio. Nvidia is guaranteeing up to $105 billion for the residual value of the facilities and becomes the exclusive chip supplier. According to the Wall Street Journal, nine tech companies now hold around $3 trillion in AI commitments…