From The Register, January 20:
All those neural network weights aren't much without ample decent silicon
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly seeking billions of dollars in capital to build out a network of AI chip fabs.
Citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said on Friday Altman has approached several outfits, including Abu Dhabi-based G42 and Japan's Softbank, to help make it happen.
Microsoft, OpenAI's biggest champion, has reportedly shown interest in the project, which would fund the construction and operation of chip factories around the world to support growing demand for neural network accelerators. The goal of the program appears to be this: build enough assembly lines to ensure there is a healthy supply of AI processors to meet demand.
Altman, whose super-lab is rumored to be developing an AI accelerator of its own, has previously expressed concerns that there aren't enough processors to go around. With world-plus-dog jumping on the machine-learning bandwagon, we could agree with that. Meta just indicated it wants 350,000 Nvidia accelerators by the end of year to drive its AGI work.
If there aren't enough processors to train and run models to meet user demand, remote services may suffer from slow downs, rationing, or limited deployment, which isn't a great customer experience. Those hoping to use the tech on their own infrastructure may be unable to easily source the parts they need....
....MUCH MORE
Chips appear to have become a high-value currency substitute.
Recently: "Chips: "Mark Zuckerberg Says Meta Will Own Billions Worth of Nvidia H100 GPUs by Year End" (META; NVDA)"
