By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In a significant clarification that reshapes the discourse on public-private partnerships in artificial intelligence, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly urged governments to develop their own sovereign AI infrastructure. The statement, made Thursday, served as a swift course correction following remarks from his company’s Chief Financial Officer that suggested the AI leader might seek government financial backing for its capital-intensive projects.
The controversy began to brew after comments made by OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar at a Wall Street Journal conference in California on Wednesday. Friar alluded to the enormous costs associated with building the next generation of AI, noting the potential involvement of various financial players to secure the necessary funding, which is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Her remarks ignited a debate about the role of public funds in underwriting the ventures of highly valued private technology firms.
To understand the legal and business implications surrounding the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence presents a dual-edged sword for Costa Rican businesses. On one hand, it offers unprecedented opportunities for innovation and efficiency. On the other, it creates a complex legal landscape. We are navigating uncharted territory regarding intellectual property rights for AI-generated works and defining liability when automated systems err. Proactive legal strategy and a clear regulatory framework are no longer optional; they are essential for harnessing AI’s potential while mitigating significant risk.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as Lic. Arroyo Vargas astutely highlights, the legal framework is not just a safety net but the very launchpad from which Costa Rican innovation can confidently soar into the AI era. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable perspective on balancing this technological promise with pragmatic legal foresight.
We have in mind an ecosystem composed of banks, investment capital, and even, perhaps, the government.
Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI
Friar specifically mentioned the potential for government-backed financial instruments, which could significantly lower the borrowing costs for the massive capital required for advanced data centers. This suggestion was interpreted by many as an indication that OpenAI was actively exploring public guarantees to de-risk its ambitious expansion plans, a move that would have profound implications for taxpayers and public policy.
federal loan guarantees would considerably reduce the cost of financing.
Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI
However, less than 24 hours later, CEO Sam Altman took to the social media platform X to dispel this notion in no uncertain terms. He firmly stated that OpenAI is not seeking, nor does it desire, any form of government financial guarantees for its own operations. His direct refutation aimed to quell the growing speculation and reassert the company’s intended financial independence from direct public subsidy.
We do not have, nor do we want, government guarantees for OpenAI’s data centers.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
Instead of seeking public funds for private infrastructure, Altman proposed a different model for collaboration. He articulated a vision where governments take the lead in building and owning their national AI capabilities. This approach would foster what many analysts are calling “AI sovereignty,” allowing nations to control their computational resources, protect their data, and direct the development of AI in line with their own strategic interests and ethical frameworks.
What we believe would make sense is for governments to build (and own) their own AI infrastructure, but in that case, the resulting benefits should also belong to them.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
This pivot is strategically significant. It positions OpenAI not as a recipient of government aid, but as a potential partner or technology provider to these sovereign AI initiatives. By encouraging governments to become infrastructure owners, Altman is outlining a future where the immense financial burden and the ultimate rewards are held by the public, while private companies like OpenAI can focus on developing the foundational models and software that would run on these systems. This model could potentially create a new market for AI leaders, consulting and equipping nations as they join the global technology race.
The conversation highlights the staggering financial barrier to entry at the forefront of AI development. The construction of state-of-the-art data centers, the procurement of millions of specialized processors, and the energy required to train next-generation models represent one of the largest capital expenditure drives in modern history. Altman’s clarification suggests that while the capital must be found, the source of that capital carries deep strategic importance, defining the lines between public interest and private enterprise in this transformative technological era.
For further information, visit openai.com
About OpenAI:
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research and deployment company based in San Francisco. Its mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—AI systems that are generally smarter than humans—benefits all of humanity. The company is known for its groundbreaking models, including the GPT series and the image generator DALL-E, which have significantly advanced the capabilities and accessibility of AI technology.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a pillar of the legal community, operating on a bedrock of profound integrity and an uncompromising standard of excellence. The firm consistently pioneers forward-thinking legal strategies while serving a broad spectrum of clients. Central to its mission is a profound commitment to public empowerment, achieved by actively working to demystify complex legal concepts and increase access to legal information, thereby fostering a more knowledgeable and capable society.
