OpenAI Unveils First Chip As Part of Broadcom Deal (cnbc.com)
(Wednesday June 24, 2026 @05:00PM (BeauHD)
from the Nvidia-who? dept.)
- Reference: 0184069376
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/06/24/1755203/openai-unveils-first-chip-as-part-of-broadcom-deal
- Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/24/openai-and-broadcom-reveal-jalapeno-first-ai-chip-in-partnership.html
OpenAI and Broadcom have [1]unveiled Jalapeno, OpenAI's first custom AI chip, [2]designed primarily to handle inference for ChatGPT and other services . It's a major step in OpenAI's plan to "build the full stack behind its models and products," says OpenAI. "By designing more of the stack ourselves, we can serve more intelligence with greater efficiency and keep pushing advanced AI toward broader access." CNBC reports:
> The chip with Broadcom is an ASIC, which industry experts say is less flexible than Nvidia's GPU, but is also less expensive and can be designed for specific AI tasks. OpenAI said that it designed the chip in nine months, and that it also crafted large parts of the computer system where it will be used.
>
> The companies are calling the chip an "Intelligence Processor" and describe it as the first "AI accelerator" in a platform they're building "to make advanced AI faster, more reliable, and more accessible to more people." [...] A physical sample of the new chip will be delivered to OpenAI on Wednesday. The companies said they're aiming for initial deployment of the Jalapeno chips by the end of 2026, "expanding in the years ahead."
[1] https://openai.com/index/openai-broadcom-jalapeno-inference-chip/
[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/24/openai-and-broadcom-reveal-jalapeno-first-ai-chip-in-partnership.html
> The chip with Broadcom is an ASIC, which industry experts say is less flexible than Nvidia's GPU, but is also less expensive and can be designed for specific AI tasks. OpenAI said that it designed the chip in nine months, and that it also crafted large parts of the computer system where it will be used.
>
> The companies are calling the chip an "Intelligence Processor" and describe it as the first "AI accelerator" in a platform they're building "to make advanced AI faster, more reliable, and more accessible to more people." [...] A physical sample of the new chip will be delivered to OpenAI on Wednesday. The companies said they're aiming for initial deployment of the Jalapeno chips by the end of 2026, "expanding in the years ahead."
[1] https://openai.com/index/openai-broadcom-jalapeno-inference-chip/
[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/24/openai-and-broadcom-reveal-jalapeno-first-ai-chip-in-partnership.html
So... nvidia is boned? (Score:2)
by ebunga ( 95613 )
Because why would they need nvidia when they have everything broadcom has?
ASICs vs NVIDIA GPUs (Score:1)
by suntzu3000 ( 10203459 )
I was under the impression that ASICs were cheaper to produce while still doing a subset of tasks as well (or nearly as well) as a more general GPU, but that the power-performance ratio was about the same.
If that is so, I don't understand how its going to allow OpenAI to serve more users. Maybe the issue is that NVIDIA can't keep up with demand? So this is a way to expand the overall capacity of their data centers? By adding fleets of ASICs in addition to their fleets of NVIDIA GPUs? Not sure.
Re: ASICs vs NVIDIA GPUs (Score:2)
by topham ( 32406 )
Targeted markets. All in one solutions work best in government contracts, for example.
Broadcom is evil (Score:2)
by MpVpRb ( 1423381 )
They should have worked with Intel
I'm disappointed
Wait, did you say Broadcom? (Score:2)
Wasn't Broadcom the pirates who just bought VMware to hold it for ransom over their customers? I mean, not that I don't think those guys would enjoy working with Sam Altman, but these are some awfully scummy people to stand. Maybe I'll just give my money to a different or smaller outfit.
Re: (Score:2)
Broadcom is also the manufacturer of the Internet's darling, the Raspberry Pi.
Re: (Score:2)
Not exactly. Broadcom makes the chips used in the Pi. Initially it was due to Broadcom being the cheapest but anymore I wonder why they keep doing business.