Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, seeks to secure billions in funding for the advancement of AI chip technology.

A recent Bloomberg report reveals that Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has been engaged in intense discussions with potential investors about his innovative approach to developing AI chips. These discussions aim to secure the necessary funds for the project, which will kick off with the establishment of fabrication plants, commonly known as fabs. While these talks are still in the early stages, Altman is optimistic about raising billions of dollars to move his vision forward and create a unique network of AI chip factories that produce semiconductors.

According to the report, Altman has shared his ideas with G42, a company based in Abu Dhabi, and Japan’s SoftBank Group, among other investors. The discussion with G42 began in October 2023 and is expected to raise between $8 billion and $10 billion, although the details of the arrangement remain unclear. The primary manufacturers for OpenAI’s AI chips are anticipated to be Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Samsung Electronics.

Altman’s interest in AI chips is driven by his belief that the future of AI may rely on an ambitious and uncertain form of energy that does not currently exist. In addition to Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of META, has expressed his desire to invest in AI chips to enhance technology infrastructure. He plans to acquire about 350,000 H100 units in graphic processing from the renowned designer Nvidia by the end of 2024.

Overall, this article highlights the ongoing discussions and potential funding opportunities for OpenAI’s AI chip project, as well as the interest from other prominent figures in the industry like Mark Zuckerberg.