ChatGPT maker OpenAI partners with AI chipmaker Cerebras

ChatGPT creator OpenAI has entered into a multi-year partnership with AI chipmaker Cerebras to expand its computing infrastructure, as it looks to deliver faster, more responsive AI services amid rising global demand.

Under the agreement, Cerebras will provide OpenAI with 750 megawatts of high-speed compute capacity between now and 2028. The capacity will be brought online in multiple tranches, starting this year, and will be integrated into OpenAI’s inference stack in phases. Reuters has reported that the deal is valued at more than $10 billion over the life of the contract.

The partnership is focused on inference, the stage at which an AI model generates responses to user queries. OpenAI said improving inference speed is critical to making AI systems feel more natural and interactive, particularly for complex tasks such as code generation, image creation, and agent-based workflows. Faster, low-latency responses, the company believes, encourage users to stay longer on the platform and run higher-value workloads.

Cerebras specialises in purpose-built AI systems designed to overcome bottlenecks seen in conventional GPU-based hardware. Its architecture places massive compute, memory, and bandwidth on a single, wafer-scale chip, reducing delays that can slow down inference on traditional systems. By integrating this hardware, OpenAI aims to significantly cut response times for real-time AI interactions.

“OpenAI’s compute strategy is to build a resilient portfolio that matches the right systems to the right workloads. Cerebras adds a dedicated low-latency inference solution to our platform. That means faster responses, more natural interactions, and a stronger foundation to scale real-time AI to many more people,” said Sachin Katti of OpenAI.

Andrew Feldman, co-founder and chief executive of Cerebras, said the partnership could mark a shift in how AI systems are built and used. “Just as broadband transformed the internet, real-time inference will transform AI, enabling entirely new ways to build and interact with AI models,” he said.

Founded in 2015, Cerebras has positioned itself as an alternative to established players such as NVIDIA in the AI hardware market. The company has had a complex path toward the public markets, having postponed its initial public offering multiple times since 2024. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was an early investor in Cerebras, and OpenAI had previously explored the possibility of acquiring the chipmaker outright.