OpenAI Shuffles Data Center Leadership Amid Growing Compute Costs
Key Summary
OpenAI is making changes to its data center leadership, with Sachin Katti stepping down from his operational role and Uday Ruddarraju taking over. The move comes as the company's compute bill is projected to reach $750 billion through 2030, with CEO Sam Altman discussing the potential for total infrastructure investment to reach into the trillions.
OpenAI Shuffles Data Center Leadership Amid Growing Compute Costs
OpenAI is changing who runs its infrastructure, again. Sachin Katti, the executive who arrived from Intel in November 2025 to lead the company’s large-scale data center projects, is stepping down from his operational role.
The New Leader
He isn’t leaving entirely. Katti will move into an advisory position after November 15, 2026. That means the person who helped steer projects including Stargate will soon be offering guidance rather than signing off on construction plans.
The Timing Matters
The timing matters because OpenAI’s compute bill keeps getting bigger. The company’s projected spending on computing power now sits at approximately $750 billion through 2030.
Who Takes the Wheel
Uday Ruddarraju will now lead OpenAI’s infrastructure and compute businesses. He has served as the company’s CTO of Compute since July 2026.
Background and Experience
Before OpenAI, Ruddarraju was an executive at xAI, where he led infrastructure engineering efforts on xAI and SpaceX-related projects.
A Revolving Door in the Data Center Team
Katti’s move is not an isolated event. Several high-profile executives left OpenAI’s data center operations earlier in 2026, including Peter Hoeschele and Chris Malone.
The Numbers Keep Climbing
OpenAI’s compute spending projection has risen to approximately $750 billion through 2030. The earlier estimate was approximately $600 billion.
CEO Sam Altman’s Vision
CEO Sam Altman has gone further, discussing the potential for total infrastructure investment to reach into the trillions.
What This Means
Ruddarraju arrives with relevant experience and an existing seat at the table as CTO of Compute. Keeping Katti as an advisor also preserves institutional knowledge about projects like Stargate that he helped lead.
Repeated Departures
Repeated departures from the data center group, including Hoeschele, Malone and now Katti in an operational sense, suggest the physical side of OpenAI’s business is where the strain shows up first.
xAI Connection
Ruddarraju’s background at xAI means OpenAI has now hired infrastructure leadership out of a direct rival.
What to Watch Next
Whether the November 15, 2026 handoff proceeds smoothly, whether further changes follow in the data center team, and whether the approximately $750 billion projection holds or gets revised again.