When we think of AI data centers, we think of the chips powering these machines. Now, companies like NVIDIA are a huge supplier when it comes to AI, but we shouldn’t forget that in a computer, there’s more to it than just the CPU or GPU. Components like RAM play a crucial role too. In an announcement on the OpenAI website, the company has revealed a new partnership with Samsung and SK for memory chips.
OpenAI partners with Samsung and SK for memory chips
According to OpenAI, the partnership will focus on ramping up production of advanced memory chips for the Stargate project. If you’re not familiar, Stargate is OpenAI’s $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative that involves building massive data centers. The deal came together after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and executives from Samsung and SK in Seoul.
Samsung and SK Hynix are planning to produce up to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month specifically for Stargate and AI data centers. If that sounds like a lot, it is because it is. For context, that’s more than double what the industry currently produces in high-bandwidth memory chips. Some reports suggest this could eat up roughly 40% of total global DRAM output.
Given OpenAI’s growing popularity, it has managed to attract more than its fair share of big names in tech. Recently, NVIDIA said it would invest a whopping $100 billion into the company. It also plans to give them access to over 10 gigawatts of compute capacity. Oracle also signed a deal worth $300 billion in compute capacity to OpenAI over the next five years.
But OpenAI’s ambitions don’t stop there
In addition to working with Samsung and SK, there was a recent report that suggests OpenAI wants to work with TSMC and Foxconn . The report claims that OpenAI is interested in developing its own AI chips. This means that instead of relying on third-party companies, OpenAI wants to do it themselves.
It’s a smart play. Developing its own chips gives OpenAI greater control over both hardware and software. It’s a similar play we’re seeing from both Apple and Google. Both companies have developed their own software and hardware for their phones, allowing them to develop specific features while optimizing for both.
