Technology

OpenAI might be building its own chip, but it’ll still be dependent on Nvidia — custom chip developed with Broadcom reportedly slips to Q3 2026

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Sep 30, 2025

TL;DR

AI Generated

OpenAI's custom chip project with Broadcom, aimed at handling inference workloads, has faced delays and is now expected to launch in Q3 2026 at the earliest. Despite this, OpenAI is also deepening its partnership with Nvidia, with a recent infrastructure agreement worth over $100 billion. While OpenAI aims to reduce reliance on Nvidia with its own chip, it continues to use Nvidia GPUs extensively for tasks like training its GPT-4 model. The industry-wide challenge remains migrating away from Nvidia's CUDA platform due to its widespread optimization in AI frameworks. The article emphasizes the ongoing dependence on Nvidia even as companies like OpenAI venture into developing their own chips.

Read Full Article

Chinese GPU maker Cambricon's Q1 revenue hits $423 million as country's homegrown AI chip market accelerates — Chinese chipmakers continue to leech market share from Nvidia

Chinese GPU maker Cambricon Technologies reported a Q1 revenue of $423 million, marking a significant increase over the previous year. The company's net profit also rose by 185%, reflecting its growth in the AI chip market. Cambricon's success comes as Chinese chipmakers, including MetaX Integrated Circuits, are gaining market share from Nvidia in China. Despite facing challenges, such as losing Huawei as a major customer, Cambricon has shown substantial growth and profitability. The company aims to increase its AI accelerator shipments in 2026 and is positioned as a key player in China's AI hardware supply chain.

Tom's Hardware•

1 day ago

Zuckerberg's Meta will beam sunlight from space to power AI data centers, solar-collecting satellites will orbit 22,000 miles above Earth — firm reserves 1 Gigawatt of orbital solar energy and 100 Gigawatt-hours of long-duration storage

Meta, led by Zuckerberg, plans to power its AI data centers with sunlight beamed from space using solar-collecting satellites in geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles above Earth. The company has reserved 1 Gigawatt of orbital solar energy and 100 Gigawatt-hours of long-duration storage to address the increasing energy demands of its AI infrastructure. This move is part of Meta's strategy to secure long-term energy supplies for its expanding AI operations, with a first orbital demonstration planned for 2028 and potential commercial delivery by 2030. The partnerships with Overview Energy and Noon Energy aim to tackle the challenges of intermittency and long-duration energy storage in renewable energy systems.

Tom's Hardware•

2 days ago

Carbon in the Age of AI Chips: What the Semiconductor Industry Needs to Know This Earth Day

The semiconductor industry is facing increasing pressure to address carbon emissions, with a new report from TechInsights highlighting the impact of AI chips on the environment. The report projects a significant rise in fabrication emissions, particularly from advanced technologies and AI accelerators. It emphasizes the importance of considering manufacturing carbon as a strategic variable in decision-making processes. The study also examines the carbon footprint of consumer and enterprise devices, revealing that memory and storage components contribute significantly to embodied carbon. To mitigate emissions, the report suggests actions such as pursuing cleaner electricity sources and optimizing platform configurations.

SemiWiki•

1 week ago

Global memory shortage expected to get worse before it gets better

The global memory shortage is expected to worsen, with reports indicating that DRAM shortages may persist until the end of the decade. Major manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are investing in expanding production facilities, but the additional capacity won't be fully operational until 2027 or later, leading to a multi-year supply gap. The rise in AI infrastructure demand for high-bandwidth memory is prioritizing production over traditional DRAM used in consumer devices, causing further supply constraints. Analysts predict a shortfall in production growth compared to demand, potentially extending the memory shortage until 2030, resulting in continued high prices for consumers.

TweakTown•