It is reported that OpenAI wants a trillion for AI chip development
Sam Altman, CEO of artificial intelligence (AI) developer OpenAI, is reportedly in talks with global investors to raise trillions of dollars to make semiconductor chips.
According to a February 8 report by The Wall Street Journal, Altman's project will require fundraising of around $5-7 trillion. Sources close to OpenAI said the funds will address the company's size limitations and the shortage and cost of chips needed to develop high-end AI systems.
Altman has been forging partnerships between OpenAI and “various investors” in chipmakers and energy suppliers.
An OpenAI spokesperson commented:
“OpenAI has led to discussions about developing global infrastructure and supply chains for chips, energy and data centers – very important for AI and other industries that rely on them.
Altman recently met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to discuss the initiative because it requires the participation of customers, industry partners and governments around the world.
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An OpenAI spokesperson said they will continue to inform the US government about the importance of the topic to the country's “national priorities”.
The CEO of OpenAI met with Sheikh Tahnun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser of the United Arab Emirates. According to sources close to the matter, the United Arab Emirates will play a significant role if the US government allows it.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and representatives from chip manufacturing companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing have reportedly been in talks with Altman about the job.
A person familiar with the matter said Microsoft — the majority shareholder in OpenAI — is aware of the company's fundraising efforts and supports them.
In the year In December 2023, OpenAI was reportedly in talks with investors who were considering investing more than $100 billion.
Nvidia remains the market leader in chips used for AI computing. In the past year, the company has been reporting record-breaking revenue and a valuation of more than $1 trillion as AI models continue to grow.
Meta, the big tech company that owns the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, recently announced its bid for the AI chip market. It unveiled its latest chip, called “Artemis,” which it plans to deploy in its data centers to boost AI capabilities and reduce reliance on NVIDIA.
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