The world’s AI race is no longer just a battle between tech companies and superpower countries. Workers working on construction sites are also paying its price. The Stargate Data Center being built in Abilene, Texas, USA, is a mega AI infrastructure project worth $ 500 billion (Rs 47.18 lakh crore). It is being developed jointly by giants like OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank. President Donald Trump has called it a big bet for America’s AI power. The aim is to leave China behind in the AI race. But TIME’s ground investigation shows a different picture of this glittering project. According to the report, in this blind race for rapid construction, the life and safety of the workers is being completely ignored. Several accidents involving 8,000 workers have been reported at the project site. According to Osha Records organization, many workers suffered leg fractures in 2025. A worker buried under the excavator. Fell from a staircase. Glass panels weighing 1,400 pounds fell on one. A laborer was found dead in a porta-potty. The site has recorded 14 emergency calls to 911 since December 2024. These included medical emergencies like injury, heat stroke, dehydration and heart attack. Cases are going on in the court against two contractor companies working on this project. Revealed from Ground Zero… Workers were treated as ‘luxury’ for even water and fans. Workers described the conditions inside the site as very difficult. An electrician alleged that drinking water is not easily available at the site, even in the scorching Texas heat. Workers were told that cold water was a ‘luxury’, not a right. The fans were also taken back. According to one of the workers, a written warning was given for spending too much time in the cooling station. One worker said that many have even suffered panic attacks. Even basic facilities are not being provided to maintain the speed of construction. Understand from 3 cases… How to miss the rules while speeding Case 1 – Truck driver Daniel Gonzalez was unloading a concrete box containing electrical equipment. Communication was weak due to noise, there were no walkie-talkies. Then the chain thrown from above hit his head. He became unconscious. He has filed a lawsuit. Case 2 – On 23 May 2025, a laborer was showing the way to a mini excavator. Due to lack of necessary protection, he got buried under the track. He suffered fractures in his ankle and spine. Osha Records organization found that the worker was not given training. Case 3 – An employee was opening glass panels. Then three panels weighing 650 kg fell on his feet. The thigh bone was broken and several surgeries had to be done. During investigation, it was believed that the worker was under pressure to finish the work quickly. Confidentiality agreements so workers do not complain Many workers spoke anonymously because they were made to sign confidentiality agreements. It is alleged that such agreements are preventing the actual condition of the site from being revealed. They fear that if they speak openly, they may lose their job or face difficulty in getting work in the future. Stargate – The biggest weapon in the American AI race Stargate is America’s mega AI infra project. This is not a simple data center, but part of a vast computing network needed to run and train AI models. Names like OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank are associated with it. Its goal is to develop the ability to stay ahead of China. The race has to be won, the project has to be built quickly – Trump US President Trump has described Stargate as a major part of the AI strategy. It was announced with Sam of OpenAI, Larry of Oracle and Sun of Softbank. Trump had said that to win the race, it has to be done quickly.
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टेक्सास डेटा सेंटर, 47 लाख करोड़ का प्रोजेक्ट: चीन से होड़ में ट्रंप; सुरक्षा की अनदेखी से साइट पर 8,000 वर्कर्स को खतरा
