OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's plan to attract global investors to support building artificial intelligence AI infrastructure is becoming clearer, with a focus first on launching in U.S. states and expected to cost tens of billions of dollars, according to people familiar with the matter. The types of projects being discussed include building data centers, boosting energy capacity and transmission through turbines and generators, and expanding semiconductor manufacturing. Backers are likely to include investors from Canada, South Korea, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. Other private companies are also expected to participate in the project. Microsoft, OpenAI's largest investor, could be a potential partner, though Microsoft did not comment specifically on the project, but said it was aware of and involved in any of the company's broad infrastructure-related efforts.