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Semiconductors: OpenAI boss Sam Altman in search of trillions of dollars

To continue the development of generative artificial intelligence, the boss of OpenAI seeks to secure access to semiconductors. Sam Altman has a plan for this estimated at several trillion dollars.

Sam Altman knows that without secure access to semiconductors, it is impossible to continue the development of artificial intelligence. © Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / RFI

By: Nicolas Feldmann Follow

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In December, OpenAI

reached $2 billion in revenue for the year 2023. The growth of the company specializing in artificial intelligence can be explained by the success of its flagship product:

ChatGPT

, which claims 100 million weekly users.  

But to continue running its generative artificial intelligence models, OpenAI badly needs semiconductors. However, these electronic chips are expensive and difficult to find.

A $7 trillion plan

According to the

Wall Street Journal

, Sam Altman's plan calls for " 

the development of global infrastructure and supply chains for chips, energy and data centers

 ."

The project of the founder of Open AI is estimated by the

Wall Street Journal

at 7,000 billion dollars, or some 1,000 billion more than the market value of the two largest companies on the planet, Microsoft and Apple combined. 

Also read: OpenAI in crisis, artificial intelligence in need of answers

All-round consultations

To raise these funds, Sam Altman consults in all directions. In recent weeks,

the

Wall Street Journal

has reported meetings with representatives of the United Arab Emirates government and others with the Japanese group Soft Bank.

The founder of OpenAI also discusses with one of the leaders in semiconductors, the Taiwanese TSMC. He could entrust him with the construction and operation of his electronic chips.

Generative AI race

Sam Altman knows that without secure access to semiconductors, it is impossible to continue the development of artificial intelligence. And for his company, OpenAI, to fight against Google and Meta who have made this area a priority.

Thursday February 8, Google launched a new version of generative artificial intelligence system, called “Gemini”. The application “ 

is an important first step in designing a true AI assistant 

,” the group said in a statement.

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