In October 2025, Argentina’s government announced that OpenAI and its local partner Sur Energy plan to build a $25 billion artificial intelligence data center in Patagonia, one of the largest technology investments ever proposed in Latin America. While the initiative has been framed as a milestone for innovation and economic growth, it also raises urgent questions about transparency, environmental impact, and the social costs of AI infrastructure in the Global South.
Through a cross-disciplinary investigation, Chequeado, Argentina’s leading nonprofit newsroom dedicated to verification and data journalism, examines who benefits from this project, who bears its risks, and what remains hidden from public debate. The reporting combines fieldwork in Patagonia, analysis of public documents, and interviews with experts, policymakers, and affected communities.
By mapping energy and water demands, labor conditions, and regulatory loopholes, this series sheds light on how global AI expansion intersects with local environmental and governance challenges.
Published in Spanish and English across Chequeado, ADN Sur, La Nación, and regional partners, this project seeks to promote accountability and informed public discussion on the true costs of technological progress.
