New York: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is seeking to secure billions of dollars for a new chip venture, aiming to establish a network of semiconductor manufacturing factories, according to various media reports. Altman has engaged in discussions with major potential investors to gather the substantial funds required for chip fabrication plants, commonly referred to as fabs.
The ambitious project would entail collaboration with leading chip manufacturers, and the network of fabs is expected to have a global reach. The semiconductor manufacturing process is not only expensive but also demands significant natural resources, in addition to the substantial funding. As technology advances, costs have been escalating for the production of chips used in artificial intelligence applications.
While talks with potential partners are still in the early stages, Abu Dhabi-based G42 and Japan’s SoftBank Group are reportedly among the firms that have held discussions with Altman. The discussions with G42, OpenAI’s partner since October last year, were focused on raising $8 billion to $10 billion, although the current status of these talks remains unclear.
Potential partners for OpenAI include major players like Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), and Samsung Electronics, as per the Bloomberg report. However, responses from OpenAI, SoftBank, Intel, TSMC, G42, and Samsung are yet to be received in response to Reuters’ requests for comment. Microsoft, which Altman has approached with the plan, has expressed interest in the project, according to the report.
Altman, who returned to OpenAI in November after a surprise ouster, has been actively involved in the chip project. His efforts on this venture resumed upon his return to the company. While the talks with potential partners are ongoing, a comprehensive list of involved partners and funders has not been finalized.
