
OpenAI Advances Toward Independence with In-House AI Chip Development
OpenAI is nearing the completion of its own processor designed for artificial intelligence, a strategic move aimed at reducing dependence on Nvidia’s chips. In the coming months, the company will hand over its chip designs to Taiwan-based TSMC, which will manufacture them using cutting-edge 3-nanometer technology. Mass production is currently scheduled to begin in 2026.
Although specific technical details and release dates have not been disclosed, OpenAI plans to continuously refine its chip’s design and improve performance. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to establish a self-sufficient AI infrastructure, minimizing reliance on third-party suppliers and reducing operational costs. By developing its own chips, OpenAI aims to gain leverage in negotiations with semiconductor manufacturers and ultimately achieve full independence in hardware development.
Tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta have also invested in proprietary AI chip development to decrease reliance on Nvidia, the dominant supplier of high-performance GPUs for data centers. OpenAI first announced its plans in October 2023, and since early 2024, CEO Sam Altman has been actively seeking investments to scale up production capabilities, with an ambitious target of securing up to $7 trillion. According to Reuters, the development of a single AI processor could cost around $500 million, with software and infrastructure expenses pushing the total even higher. The project is led by former Google engineer Richard Ho, along with a team of 40 engineers working in collaboration with Broadcom.
The initial chip will be used to run AI models rather than train them, with deployment limited to internal OpenAI operations. Additionally, the company recently announced Project Stargate, a collaboration with SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX aimed at building new AI data centers in the United States.
With this bold push into AI hardware development, OpenAI is positioning itself at the forefront of the industry, ensuring greater autonomy in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.