To reduce its reliance on NVIDIA and other AI chip suppliers, OpenAI is expected to have its first in-house AI chip taped out at TSMC in the first half of this year, sources told Reuters on Monday. OpenAI views the training-focused AI chip as a strategic tool to strengthen its bargaining power with other chip suppliers, sources said. The company is moving toward its goal of mass-producing its first AI chip at TSMC by 2026, according to the report. A typical tape-out costs tens of millions of dollars and takes about six months to produce a finished chip, unless OpenAI pays a premium for faster manufacturing. There is no guarantee the chip will work on the first attempt. If it fails, the company would need to diagnose the issue and restart the process. [Reuters]

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