OpenAI Deepens Next-Generation AI Chip Cooperation With Samsung, Anthropic Also Seeks Foundry Support

TradingKey - According to Reuters, OpenAI recently stated that it is deepening its semiconductor cooperation with Samsung Electronics, with both parties pursuing joint production and R&D around next-generation chips being developed by OpenAI, further expanding their scope of collaboration in AI infrastructure.

Harrison Kim, general manager of OpenAI Korea, said at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday that one of the areas with the most tangible progress in collaboration with Samsung Electronics is joint production and research for OpenAI's next-generation chips. However, he did not disclose specific chip specifications, manufacturing processes, or Samsung's precise role in the project. Samsung Electronics has not responded further.

OpenAI has actively pursued self-developed AI chips in recent years to expand computing power supply and reduce reliance on a single chip supplier. In June this year, the company unveiled its first custom AI chip, Jalapeno, co-designed by OpenAI and Broadcom (AVGO), primarily for AI inference tasks, with manufacturing handled by TSMC (TSM).

OpenAI's cooperation with South Korean semiconductor companies has already been underway. In 2025, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each signed letters of intent with OpenAI to supply advanced memory chips for its Stargate AI data center project. OpenAI stated that as AI models require faster and more complex computing power, future demand for high-performance memory chips is expected to keep growing, making strengthening collaboration with the South Korean semiconductor supply chain one of the company's key priorities.

Beyond chip collaboration, Samsung is also one of OpenAI's largest enterprise customers globally. Currently, Samsung's employees in South Korea and its global Device eXperience division are already using ChatGPT extensively across multiple departments, including R&D, marketing, and sales. OpenAI stated that as of late August, the number of ChatGPT Enterprise users among South Korean companies and institutions grew by about 28-fold from a year earlier.

As collaboration on next-generation chips progresses, the relationship between OpenAI and Samsung is extending beyond memory chip supply and AI software usage into the R&D and production of custom AI chips.

Notably, Anthropic is also seeking to partner with Samsung to manufacture custom AI chips. According to a July report by The Information, Anthropic has held discussions with Samsung regarding the production of its proprietary AI chips. The company is currently hiring more chip engineers and recently recruited Clive Chan, a member of OpenAI's early custom chip team. However, the project remains in its early stages, and whether Anthropic will ultimately launch its own self-developed chips officially remains uncertain.