OpenAI Explores Building Inhouse AI Chips to Address GPU Shortage
In a bid to tackle the ongoing shortage of chips essential to power its artificial intelligence (AI) product, OpenAI, the brains behind ChatGPT, is contemplating a strategic move. According to a recent media report, the company is seriously considering building its very own potent processors.
OpenAI Ponders Custom Processors Amid Rising Demand for AI Hardware
The AI research powerhouse OpenAI is responding to the persistent scarcity of the pricey hardware it relies on. Ever since the debut of its AI-driven chatbot last year, the demand for specialized chips has been sky-high.
The challenge prompted OpenAI to explore various solutions, one of which involves the possibility of acquiring a chip company and forming closer partnerships with chipmakers beyond its primary collaborator, Nvidia, reliable sources have told Reuters.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Prioritizes AI Chip Acquisition as Shortage Persists
OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, who has voiced concerns about the scarcity of graphics processing units (GPUs) and the resulting financial burden, is prioritizing the acquisition of additional AI chips for the organization, according to sources familiar with the matter.
However, even if OpenAI decides to proceed with its inhouse chip development plan, it's expected to remain reliant on other providers, including Nvidia, which currently dominates 80% of the AI processor supply.
OpenAI's generative artificial intelligence technology operates on a supercomputer that uses 10,000 of Nvidia's GPUs, a construction project backed significantly by Microsoft. Operating this AI assistant incurs substantial costs, with each query consuming approximately USD 0.04, as highlighted in the report.
OpenAI to Join the Ranks of Google and Amazon
Should OpenAI venture into the realm of creating its own AI chips, it would join the ranks of tech giants such as Google and Amazon, both of which have embarked on designing chips central to their operations.
The owner of the social media giant, Facebook's Meta, is also trying to build its processor for its recently launched AI assistant. However, the company faced developmental challenges with some prototypes, and is diligently working on newer models.
Meanwhile, Microsoft, a significant supporter of OpenAI's chatbot project, is in the process of developing a custom AI chip, which is currently undergoing testing in collaboration with the ChatGPT maker, according to a report by tech-focused publication The Information.
Do you think OpenAI or its competitors will succeed in creating their own AI chips? Please share your thoughts and opinions on the subject in the comments section below.
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