Statement released after the launch of an AI collaboration session involving more than 1,000 Energy Department scientists and OpenAI employees.
March 1, 2025
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OAK RIDGE, TENN.—U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Chairman of House Committee on Energy and Waters Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), and Greg Brockman, OpenAI President and Co-Founder released the following statements after participating in the launch of an AI collaboration session involving more than 1,000 Energy Department scientists and OpenAI employees.
“More than 70 years ago, experts from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Lab joined with innovators from around the United States in one of the greatest scientific and engineering accomplishments in history: the Manhattan Project,” Secretary Wright said. “We’re at the start of a new Manhattan Project. With President Trump’s leadership, the United States will win the global AI race, but first, we must unleash our energy dominance and restore American competitiveness. Today’s collaboration of DOE’s national labs and technology companies is an important step in our efforts to secure America’s future.”
“It was great to join Secretary Wright and Representative Chuck Fleischmann this morning in Oak Ridge,” Senator Hagerty said. “In order for the U.S. to win the Artificial Intelligence race, we need computing power and energy, and Tennessee has both. The U.S. can lead in this space with the Volunteer State at the tip of the spear. I am more than confident that we can achieve this under President Trump’s leadership.”
“I’m honored to have welcomed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to East Tennessee and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to showcase the groundbreaking work ORNL is doing to advance breakthroughs in AI, develop new nuclear that will create America’s New Nuclear Future which is necessary to power our nation through the 21st Century and strengthen our national and energy security,” Chairman Fleischmann said. Secretary Wright’s visit, I’ve seen his determination to deliver on President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy and innovation, and I look forward to partnering with Sec. Wright over the next four years to create America’s New Golden Age, win the AI Arms Race, and make our country energy dominant again.”
“Advancing scientific research is one of the most promising applications of AI. We’re proud to work with the U.S. national labs to put our advanced technology into the hands of our country’s top scientists,” Brockman said. “OpenAI believes working closely with the U.S. government is essential to unlocking AI’s full potential. I want to thank Secretary Wright for his commitment to ensuring the U.S. continues to lead on AI, including through public-private collaborations like today’s event.”
BACKGROUND:
Secretary Wright joined Senator Hagerty, Chairman Fleischmann and Greg Brockman at the “1,000 Scientist AI Jam Session” on Friday, February 28. This first-of-its-kind event co-hosted by OpenAI and nine of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national labs explored how AI can accelerate scientific discovery.
Nine labs, including Argonne, Berkeley, Brookhaven, Idaho, Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, and Princeton Plasma Physics. It hosted more than 1,000 of America’s leading scientists for the day-long event. Participants had access to leading frontier AI models to test research applications, evaluate model responses, and help improve future AI systems.
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