An American artificial intelligence startup is looking far beyond Silicon Valley for room to grow.
Together AI has struck a deal for data center capacity in Saudi Arabia, a move that underscores the fierce resistance to new data centers in the United States.
Here’s what to know
In a new agreement with Humain — the Saudi AI company backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — San Francisco-based Together AI said it will gain access to 250 megawatts of data center power in Saudi Arabia.
That arrangement gives Together AI a way to keep expanding beyond the U.S. market, where public resistance has become a major obstacle
Public opinion helps explain that pressure: A Gallup poll released in March found that 48% of Americans “strongly oppose” new data centers in their area, compared with 7% who “strongly favor” them.
Across the U.S., these projects have drawn backlash from communities concerned about electricity demand, water consumption, noise, and added pressure on local infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has been pushing to establish itself as a major center for AI. Humain CEO Tareq Amin said in a statement, “We are strengthening the region’s position as a global hub for AI infrastructure, cloud capabilities, and next-generation AI services.”
The kingdom has also been deepening its relationship with the United States. A White House statement said a May 2025 Trump administration agreement worth $600 billion included a Saudi commitment to spend $20 billion on new U.S. data centers.
More background
Pointing to the squeeze in the domestic market, Together AI CEO and co-founder Vipul Prakash told the New York Times, “More and more, local communities don’t want data centers in their backyards, and there are a lot of cancellations and moratoriums, so U.S. capacity is becoming even more constrained.”
AI’s growth is closely tied to the energy grid because training and running large models require enormous computing power, and that power depends on a steady electricity supply.
Additionally, data centers can consume huge amounts of energy and water, put upward pressure on power bills, create security risks, and intensify concerns about how the technology is deployed.
Humain’s broader push includes partnerships with Amazon Web Services, xAI, Microsoft, and Applied Intuition.
Some analysts have cautioned that placing more AI infrastructure in a geopolitically tense region may introduce new vulnerabilities.
A Brookings report cited by Gizmodo warned that the risks could go beyond lost business: “The consequences could extend beyond commercial losses and may result in degrading U.S. technological advantage, accelerating rivals’ capabilities—especially China—and potentially undermining the integrity of AI systems on which critical functions depend.”
