OpenAI set to finalise first custom chip design this year

OpenAI is pushing ahead on its plan to reduce its reliance on Nvidia for its chip supply by developing its first generation of in-house artificial-intelligence silicon. If the initial tape out goes smoothly, it would enable the ChatGPT maker to mass-produce its first in-house AI chip and potentially test an alternative to Nvidia's chips later this year. OpenAI’s plan to send its design to TSMC this year demonstrates the startup has made speedy progress on its first design, a process that can take other chip designers years longer. Ho joined OpenAI more than a year ago from Alphabet's Google where he helped lead the search giant's custom AI chip program. OpenAI's in-house AI chip, while capable of both training and running AI models, will initially be deployed on a limited scale, and primarily for running AI models, the sources said.