OpenAI, the company behind the viral AI chatbot ChatGPT, is reportedly considering plans to develop its own artificial intelligence chips or pursue an acquisition, according to people familiar with the company’s ambitions.
Recent internal discussions indicate OpenAI has not yet made a final decision to move forward. However, sources say the company has been exploring solutions to the costly AI chip shortage since at least last year, as demand continues to rise.
OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a non-profit AI research organization. But since launching ChatGPT in November 2022, the company has seen massive growth and popularity. Developing custom AI hardware could help OpenAI better control costs and scale to meet demand.
The global chip shortage has impacted many industries, especially as advanced AI capabilities require specialized silicon. Prices have surged, with Nvidia reporting a 60% price hike on its data center chips. This has prompted other tech giants like Google and Microsoft to also consider custom AI chips.
For OpenAI, developing or acquiring chip technology in-house would mark a major expansion beyond software into hardware. While no concrete plans have been finalized, the move highlights OpenAI’s ambitions and the massive computing power required for state-of-the-art AI models like ChatGPT.
Stay tuned as this story continues to develop. The AI chip market is increasingly competitive, and OpenAI’s potential entry could have significant ripple effects across the industry.
