Training next-generation AI models compounds the problem. On top of running existing AI models like those that power ChatGPT, OpenAI is constantly working on new technology in the background. It’s a process that requires thousands of specialized chips running continuously for months. The circular investment question The financial structure of these deals between OpenAI, Oracle,… Read More »
Even Space Race salaries were far cheaper The Apollo program offers another striking comparison. Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, earned about $27,000 annually—roughly $244,639 in today’s money. His crewmates Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins made even less, earning the equivalent of $168,737 and $155,373, respectively, in today’s dollars. Current NASA… Read More »
US export controls have had some effect on the black market. Given the nature of such products, leading Chinese AI players with global operations are not able to order them in a legally compliant way, install them in their own data centers, or receive Nvidia’s customer support. This has led to third-party data centre operators… Read More »
Stargate moves forward despite early skepticism When OpenAI announced Stargate in January, critics questioned whether the company could deliver on its ambitious $500 billion funding promise. Trump ally and frequent Altman foe Elon Musk wrote on X that “They don’t actually have the money,” claiming that “SoftBank has well under $10B secured.” Tech writer and… Read More »
Chinese firms have begun rushing to order Nvidia’s H20 AI chips as the company plans to resume sales to mainland China, Reuters reports. The chip giant expects to receive US government licenses soon so that it can restart shipments of the restricted processors just days after CEO Jensen Huang met with President Donald Trump, potentially… Read More »
Beyond market volatility, Nvidia faces ongoing geopolitical challenges that threaten its access to one of its largest markets. Export controls on Nvidia’s chips designed to keep advanced AI tech out of Chinese hands (that date back to 2022, during the early Biden era) have created a thorny obstacle for the company that it has tried… Read More »
OpenAI has struck a deal to use Google’s cloud computing infrastructure for AI despite the two companies’ fierce competition in the space, reports Reuters. The agreement, finalized in May after months of negotiations, marks a shift in OpenAI’s strategy to diversify its computing resources beyond Microsoft Azure, which had been its exclusive cloud provider until… Read More »
Nvidia announced plans today to manufacture AI chips and build complete supercomputers on US soil for the first time, commissioning over one million square feet of manufacturing space across Arizona and Texas. The politically timed move comes amid rising US-China tensions and the Trump administration’s push for domestic manufacturing. Nvidia’s announcement comes less than two… Read More »
A large investment The path to creating a custom AI chip requires substantial resources. Industry experts told Reuters that designing a single version of such a processor could cost as much as $500 million, with additional expenses for developing supporting software and hardware potentially doubling that amount. The current OpenAI chip project, led by former… Read More »
On Monday, the US government announced a new round of regulations on global AI chip exports, dividing the world into roughly three tiers of access. The rules create quotas for about 120 countries and allow unrestricted access for 18 close US allies while maintaining existing bans on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. AI-accelerating GPU… Read More »