OpenAI says Broadcom-built AI chip is complete

2026-06-24

Designed for inference

OpenAI said on the 24th that it has completed a custom AI chip co-developed with U.S. semiconductor company Broadcom. The goal is to improve power efficiency and lower the cost of using AI. Deployment will begin as early as this year in data centers operated by Microsoft and others in the U.S.

As it expanded services such as the conversational AI 'ChatGPT', OpenAI has been racing to secure computing resources for data processing. In addition to U.S. chip giant Nvidia, which supplies general-purpose GPUs, OpenAI has been pushing ahead with development of its own custom chip as efforts grow to secure semiconductors designed for individual companies.

The completed chip is called 'Habanero' and is designed specifically for AI 'inference' use. The two companies announced their partnership in October 2025. OpenAI has been promoting a vertically integrated model spanning semiconductors to apps, and President Greg Brockman said it was part of a strategy to provide AI at affordable prices and help solve a wide range of problems.

Mass production in first half of 2028

Broadcom Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan said the chip could be deployed at data centers run by Microsoft and other partners by year-end. In an interview with CNBC, he said mass production is expected to be ready in the first half of 2028 and outlined plans to scale up over the next few years.

Broadening suppliers

OpenAI has expanded ties with chipmakers to secure computing resources. In addition to Nvidia, it has received investment from Amazon.com, which makes its own chips, and has also signed large procurement deals with AMD and Cerebras Systems. It is diversifying its suppliers, including for its own AI chips.

OpenAI is preparing for an initial public offering as early as this year. Competition is intensifying with U.S. company Anthropic, which is also aiming for an IPO this year, in advanced AI development and enterprise services, and OpenAI says it has an edge in securing computing resources. Broadcom also works with Google, Anthropic and Meta on custom AI chip design and related projects.

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