OpenAI penned a $51 Million order for advanced Neuromorphic AI chips
Neuromorphic computing is "one of" the next generation of AI's, computers that self learn, and Altman has already been placing orders for future chips.
Key takeaways
- Back in 2019 OpenAI apparently signed a letter of intent to spend $51 million on a special kind of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips from neuromorphic computing chip startup Rain AI.
- OpenAI would spend the $51m as soon as the chips are available, with Rain telling investors that it plans to ship its first chips as soon as this October.
- Sam Altman was CEO of OpenAI at the time of the deal, then was fired last November before being re-hired again in a shambolic mess after staff threatened to quit.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2024) 'OpenAI penned a $51 Million order for advanced Neuromorphic AI chips', 311 Institute, 15 February. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/openai-penned-a-51-million-order-for-advanced-neuromorphic-ai-chips/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Back in 2019 OpenAI apparently signed a letter of intent to spend $51 million on a special kind of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips from neuromorphic computing chip startup Rain AI. Wired reports that CEO Sam Altman has personally invested more than $1 million into the company, which says that it is working hard to develop the next generation of ultra low power, ultra fast AI Neuromorphic Processing Units (NPU), just as elsewhere other companies are now starting to power up the world’s first brain scale neuromorphic computing systems.
OpenAI would spend the $51m as soon as the chips are available, with Rain telling investors that it plans to ship its first chips as soon as this October. Sam Altman was CEO of OpenAI at the time of the deal, then was fired last November before being re-hired again in a shambolic mess after staff threatened to quit.
The Future of Computing 2050, by Keynote Matthew Griffin
Altman has several investments across Silicon Valley, many dating to his time leading startup incubator Y Combinator. The incubator is also a Rain backer. The OpenAI CEO has also tried to raise trillions, yes with a “T” for his own semiconductor venture, while OpenAI has also considered starting its own chip business.
Last month, Reuters reported that OpenAI hired the former lead of Google's Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) AI chip as the head of hardware.
Rain, meanwhile, says that it “is developing digital in-memory compute chips based on neuromorphic principles.”
The company's leadership was reshuffled last month after the US government forced Saudi Arabia-affiliated fund Prosperity7 Ventures to sell its stake in the company over national security concerns.
What this means for your organisation
Buyers commit before chips exist.
OpenAI's letter of intent says it would spend the $51 million as soon as the chips are available. Rain told investors it plans to ship its first chips as soon as October. Leaders should expect the best hardware to be spoken for early.
Chip design is moving closer to memory.
Rain says it is developing digital in-memory compute chips based on neuromorphic principles. Our data puts wide use of neuromorphic computing at 2036, with a Watch rating. Compute in memory is nearer, at 2032, and rated Explore.
Ownership and supply carry real risk.
The US government forced Prosperity7 Ventures to sell its stake in Rain over national security concerns, and Rain's leadership was reshuffled. OpenAI has also hired the former lead of Google's TPU chip as head of hardware. Check who owns and backs your chip suppliers.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our workloads would gain most from ultra low power chips?
- Who owns and funds the chip suppliers we depend on?
- Are we tracking neuromorphic and in-memory chips, or waiting until they ship?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Neuromorphic computing is "one of" the next generation of AI's, computers that self learn, and Altman has already been placing orders for future chips.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Openai buy ai chips startup sam altman wired.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 February 2024. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2024). OpenAI penned a $51 Million order for advanced Neuromorphic AI chips. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/openai-penned-a-51-million-order-for-advanced-neuromorphic-ai-chips/
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