For $51 million, OpenAI will buy AI chips from a startup invested by CEO Altman

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizens and soft media users for 1520111 clue delivery! CTOnews.com, December 4 (Xinhua)-- although Sam Altman went through a series of hiring and reinstatement last month, he can still make a profit if OpenAI continues to develop ChatGPT without Altman, according to Wired magazine on Sunday local time.

This is because during Altman's tenure as CEO, OpenAI signed a letter of intent to buy AI chips from a start-up called Rain AI for $51 million (CTOnews.com Note: about 364 million yuan). What is special about this company is that it is personally invested by Altman.

It is reported that less than a mile between Rain AI's headquarters and OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters, a NPU chip is being developed to "replicate" the features of the human brain. According to a copy of the deal and information disclosed to investors by Rain AI this year, OpenAI signed a non-binding agreement in 2019 to buy the chips for $51 million after they went on sale.

According to Rain AI, Altman has personally invested more than $1 million (currently about 7.14 million yuan) in the company. Investor filings also said that Rain AI could provide customers with the first batch of AI chips as early as October next year. However, both OpenAI and Rain AI declined to comment.

Altman has publicly complained that AI chips are scarce and the cost is "jaw-dropping" and said in a closed-door meeting that "the speed of AI development may depend on new chip designs and supply chains".