
What you might want to know
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman desires to begin making customized synthetic intelligence chips.
- Final Friday, Altman toured a Samsung fabrication plant in a transfer that broke custom and was surrounded by secrecy.
- Additionally it is rumored that Altman toured SK hynix, which is one among Asia’s largest reminiscence producers.
Within the months since Sam Altman was reinstated as CEO of OpenAI, he has not been shy about his curiosity and curiosity in making customized synthetic intelligence processors. Trade leaders equivalent to Intel, AMD, Apple, and Qualcomm have all added neural processing items to their chipsets, equipping them to deal with AI duties.Â
Now, Altman could also be seeking to take part on the AI processor race. The OpenAI CEO toured Samsung and SK hynix final week in South Korea, in keeping with The Korea Instances and ET Information studies.
The 2 South Korean newspapers say that Altman arrived within the nation final Friday. Then, the chief traveled to a Samsung Electronics manufacturing facility in Pyeongtaek. Right here, Altman reportedly spoke to Kye Hyun Kyun, the CEO of Samsung Gadget Options. Altman additionally obtained a tour of Samsung’s manufacturing strains, per the studies.
The journey was surrounded in secrecy and seems to be a uncommon transfer by Samsung. The corporate doesn’t usually give excursions of its manufacturing strains to outsiders, in keeping with The Korea Instances.Â
Reminiscence chips had been a spotlight of Altman’s journey, and it is not laborious to see why. Superior AI processes have giant reminiscence necessities, so having speedy and high-capacity RAM is paramount. That is why Altman allegedly visited SK hynix after touring the Samsung plant, as the previous firm is one among Asia’s largest reminiscence producers.
There are additionally rumblings about Altman working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm (TSMC), which is the world’s largest chip fabricator. TSMC additionally has a few of the most superior foundry processes obtainable at this time. Together with Apple, it manufactured the A17 Professional chip — the primary of its variety to be made utilizing the 3nm course of node.
Individually, studies have steered that Altman may work with overseas traders to begin his personal chipmaking firm. There’s a lot that’s unclear at the moment, nevertheless.
It is not instantly obvious what Altman and OpenAI plan to do with AI chips. {Hardware} gadgets for AI are rising, with gadgets like Humane’s AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 nearing launch. Smartphones are additionally getting supercharged with AI, such because the Google Pixel 8 sequence and the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence.
Altman and OpenAI could possibly be exploring a tool of their very own, planning to outsource chips to a different OEM, or persevering with its relationship with Microsoft — its largest investor. No matter finally ends up occurring, Altman’s supposed go to to South Korean chipmakers exhibits how severe he and the corporate are about processor fabrication.Â


