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Sam Altman and Jensen Huang
In a move that has surprised the AI and tech world, Nvidia will invest as much as $100 billion in OpenAI, cementing the relationship between two of the biggest players in the global artificial intelligence competition.
As per reports by Reuters, the alliance will have Nvidia provide data center chips to OpenAI, providing the chipmaker with both strategic equity in the AI giant and guaranteeing OpenAI uses the high-end hardware it requires to stay competitive in an ever-evolving AI world.
This transaction is composed of two interdependent deals.
The deal
Nvidia will first invest in OpenAI via non-voting shares, and OpenAI will utilize the cash to buy Nvidia's chips. The firm also signed a letter of intent to put at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia equipment to use for OpenAI, equivalent to the level of computing power used by more than 8 million US homes.
What did OpenAI’s Sam Altman say?
"Everything starts with compute. Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what we're building with Nvidia to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale."
Additionally, under this deal, Nvidia will start with a $10 billion investment, with hardware shipments beginning in late 2026.
The first gigawatt of computing will be used in the second half of that year on Nvidia's new platform, Vera-Rubin.
Analysts show concern
Trade analysts and pundits are optimistic about the partnership but have raised circular issues, pointing out that some of Nvidia's funding may come back to the company in the form of chip revenue.
OpenAI keeps working on creating bespoke AI chips with collaborators like Broadcom and TSMC, and the deal does not change its current computing plans or its partnership with Microsoft.
The investment is against the backdrop of increasing industry consolidation as top companies like Microsoft, Intel, and Nvidia undertake massive AI projects.
Experts say that the agreement may attract anti-trust concerns and could solidify Nvidia's leadership in chips and use the leadership of OpenAI in software to generate hurdles for competitors in chips and AI models.