Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) developer, is currently engaged in discussions with investors worldwide in an ambitious attempt to raise trillions of dollars for the development of semiconductor chips.
According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal on February 8th, Altman’s project necessitates a fundraising effort of approximately $5-7 trillion. Sources close to OpenAI have revealed that these funds would address the company’s scaling limitations, as well as the scarcity and high costs associated with acquiring the necessary chips for the development of advanced AI systems.
Altman has been actively promoting collaborations between OpenAI and various investors, chip manufacturers, and energy providers. He has expressed OpenAI’s willingness to become a significant customer for newly established factories.
A spokesperson for OpenAI commented that Altman recently held a meeting with Gina Raimondo, the United States Commerce Secretary, to discuss this initiative. The success of the project relies on the participation of patrons, industry partners, and governments from around the world. Due to the national significance of this topic, OpenAI will continue to keep the U.S. government informed.
Furthermore, Altman also met with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates National Security Advisor. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the UAE could play a crucial role in this endeavor, provided it receives permission from the U.S. government.
Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank, and representatives from chip-fabrication companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing have also engaged in discussions with Altman regarding his venture. It has been confirmed that Microsoft, a majority stakeholder in OpenAI, is aware of the company’s fundraising efforts and fully supports them.
In December 2023, reports emerged that OpenAI was in negotiations with investors who were considering investing over $100 billion into the company.
Despite the surge in AI model development, Nvidia remains the market leader in AI computation chips. Over the past year, the company has reported record-breaking revenue and achieved a valuation exceeding one trillion dollars.
Meta, a prominent Big Tech company that owns social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, recently announced its entry into the AI chip market. The company unveiled its latest chip, named “Artemis,” which it intends to deploy in its data centers to enhance AI capabilities and reduce dependence on Nvidia.
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