OpenAI promises to purchase AI chips worth 66.7 billion won from Altman’s personal investment startup

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Signed non-binding letter of intent to purchase chips with RainAI in 2019
Altman invests $1 million… “Distracted work affects dismissal”

It was reported on the 4th (local time) that OpenAI decided to purchase artificial intelligence (AI) chips worth 66.7 billion won from a startup personally invested by Sam Altman, who recently returned as CEO.

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According to American IT company Wired, when Altman was serving as CEO before his dismissal, OpenAI signed a letter of intent to spend $51 million (about 66.7 billion won) to purchase AI chips from a startup company named Rain AI. signed.

OpenAI signed a non-binding agreement to invest $51 million in Lane’s AI chips when they are released in 2019, according to a copy of the contract obtained by Wired and a disclosure Lane made to investors this year.

It is known that Altman personally invested more than $1 million in the company. The chip is expected to be first released as early as October next year.

Founded in 2017 and based about 1km from OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco, Lane is developing neural processing unit (NPU) chips designed to replicate human brain function.

Wired pointed out that this letter of intent shows how Altman’s personal investments are intertwined with his duties as CEO of OpenAI.

According to an official at OpenAI, the board’s recent dismissal of Altman due to disingenuous communication was reportedly partly influenced by the disorganized nature of Altman’s work.

“We signed a non-binding letter of intent four years ago to engage in written contract discussions, but have not taken the next step,” OpenAI spokeswoman Kayla Wood said in a statement. “We are open to discussions with Lane in the future.”

“We look forward to future discussions with OpenAI and other companies about how our technology can advance the future of AI,” said Lane CEO William Passo.

Previously, Open AI dismissed Altman as CEO on the 17th of last month. Afterwards, Altman joined Microsoft (MS) and the employees who followed him also pressured him to return by talking about leaving the company en masse, and Altman returned as CEO five days later.

Source: Donga

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