In a daring move to revamp the global production of artificial intelligence chips, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is reportedly in talks with the Joe Biden-led administration to seek approval for his groundbreaking $7 trillion chipmaking aspirations.
Altman has been engaging in discussions with potential investors and partners across the US, Middle East, and Asia, but the project’s progress is contingent upon securing approval from the U.S. government.
According to reports from Bloomberg, Altman, a notable advocate for AI, is in pursuit of U.S. officials’ support for his plan to significantly amplify semiconductor production capacity to stave off a potential shortage that could hinder the widespread deployment of AI.
The primary objective is to raise trillions of dollars to enhance the global capacity for advanced computing chips, with the involvement of major chip manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Intel Corp., and Samsung Electronics Co. being contemplated as potential partners for Altman’s venture.
In addition, Altman has already held discussions with Samsung executives and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds regarding potential investments in the ambitious project, yet these efforts could prompt a national security review of foreign investment by a Treasury Department-led committee and may face obstacles from the Commerce Department’s controls on chip shipments to the Middle East.
As part of his strategy, Altman is also weighing the possibility of creating and issuing equity in a new company separate from OpenAI, a move that could raise antitrust concerns and would thus require approval from the US government.
This audacious venture comes on the heels of Altman’s recent discussions with potential investors, including the government of the United Arab Emirates, as he aims to secure trillions for a tech initiative focused on transforming the global semiconductor industry and augmenting AI capacity.
Meanwhile, Altman has expressed apprehensions about the potential perils of AI arising from “subtle societal misalignments” and has underscored the necessity for a regulatory body akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to oversee the rapid advancement of AI.