OpenAI’s Sam Altman Seeks US Blessing to Raise Billions for AI Chips

  • Middle East investors, factories may prompt security concerns
  • Potential new company could trigger antitrust review

Sam Altman

Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman is working to secure US government approval for a massive venture to boost global manufacturing of artificial intelligence chips, an effort that risks raising national security and antitrust concerns in Washington, according to people familiar with the matter.

Altman has been meeting with potential investors and partners in the US, Middle East and Asia over the past few weeks, but he has told some of them that he can’t move forward without a green light from Washington, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing confidential conversations.