OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a funding initiative aimed at significantly advancing chip technology. Altman’s plans, described as “wildly ambitious”, could potentially require a staggering $7 trillion in funding, with ongoing discussions to secure investment from entities including the United Arab Emirates government.

The core strategy of Altman’s venture centers around the establishment of multiple foundries to be operated by well-known chip manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Altman aims to move the field of AI forward and open new areas of opportunity by addressing critical issues hindering the development of OpenAI, including the lack of AI-enabled chips.

Key stakeholders participating in these groundbreaking discussions include senior officials from the United Arab Emirates, TSMC executives, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. These high-level meetings underscore the significant interest and potential support for Altman’s ambitious vision.

The backdrop to Altman’s initiative is the semiconductor industry, which is dominated by a few major players, including TSMC and NVIDIA. Despite efforts by various countries to increase domestic semiconductor production, the global supply chain remains highly dependent on these key companies.

In response to questions about the initiative, an OpenAI spokesperson acknowledged there were “productive discussions” around global infrastructure and supply chains but declined to provide further details at this time. In addition, OpenAI, supported by technology giant Microsoft, has not yet made a statement on the subject.

Altman’s experience as a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence lends credibility to the initiative, although it may not be without its problems. Altman, in particular, faced controversy in November; First, he had to leave a startup he co-founded, and then he was rehired after protests from employees and investors.

The scale of Altman’s fundraising goals is unprecedented, considering the $5 to $7 trillion proposed amount far exceeds typical corporate fundraising standards. Investors have already valued OpenAI at more than $80 billion; This suggests significant interest and potential for significant returns.

The proposed partnership and financing structure for Altman’s venture involves collaboration between OpenAI, investors, chip manufacturers and electricity suppliers. These organizations will contribute funds to build and operate chip production, with a significant portion of the financing potentially coming from debt. Although the discussion is reportedly still in its early stages, the results of such a partnership could transform the field of artificial intelligence.