Nvidia in talks to invest $3 bln in Ohio AI data center

Nvidia is in advanced discussions to invest up to $3 billion in SB Energy’s planned AI data center in Ohio, according to a report citing sources familiar with the matter.

The proposed investment would support the construction and operation of a high-performance computing facility designed to meet the growing energy and infrastructure demands of artificial intelligence workloads. SB Energy, a unit of SoftBank Group, is developing the project in New Albany, Ohio, a location chosen for its access to renewable energy sources and proximity to major power grids.

The facility is expected to house thousands of Nvidia GPUs, leveraging the company’s latest AI chips to deliver scalable computing power for enterprise and cloud providers. Nvidia’s potential $3 billion commitment underscores its strategy to expand AI infrastructure amid a global race to build out data center capacity. The investment could take the form of equity financing, debt, or a combination of both, though terms remain under negotiation.

SB Energy has not publicly confirmed the discussions, and Nvidia declined to comment. The project aligns with Ohio’s push to attract tech investment, including incentives such as tax abatements and infrastructure support. If finalized, the investment would mark one of the largest single commitments to an AI data center project in the state.

Analysts note that such investments are critical as AI adoption accelerates, driving demand for specialized hardware and energy-efficient data centers. Nvidia’s involvement could also accelerate SB Energy’s timeline for bringing the facility online, which is currently slated for phases between 2026 and 2028.