OpenAI’s head, Sam Altman, is reportedly in talks with investors to raise a multi-billion dollar fund for a new chip production endeavor, aiming to create a worldwide network of semiconductor fabrication plants.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, is rumored to be securing financial backing that reaches into the billions, sources tell Bloomberg. These funds are earmarked for a significant push into the semiconductor industry, with plans to build a series of chip manufacturing facilities.
Altman’s vision involves partnering with leading chipmakers to construct fabs that can meet the high demand for advanced processors. With tech behemoths like Apple in the fray, the competition is fierce, requiring hefty investment from those who can afford to play the long game.
The endeavor comes at a critical time when the auto industry’s need for chips is rising and global trade tensions are high. Altman’s initiative is set to develop fabs that can produce a variety of processors, reflecting the semiconductor industry’s growing complexity.
Altman’s other venture, Worldcoin, made headlines with a $50 million discounted token sale last December. The project aims to democratize cryptocurrency access using the Orb, a device that employs eye scans for user onboarding. Despite facing scrutiny over data privacy and a suspension in Kenya, Worldcoin has managed to enroll over 2.5 million participants worldwide.
With substantial investment from prominent firms, Worldcoin has recently closed a $115 million investment round. However, its association with controversial figures and ethical debates concerning biometrics and cryptocurrency remain a challenge for the project.
According to a report by Crypto.com, the global adoption of cryptocurrencies surpassed 500 million, driven by the growing popularity of decentralized finance (DeFi) on Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as the technological advancements resulting from the merge of the two platforms.
The ORDI token, influenced by Casey Rodarmor’s Ordinals Protocol, experienced a significant decline of over 14% on January 23rd, reaching its lowest point in a month, as Bitcoin retraced to $39,000.