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OpenAI taps startup Cerebras in bid to boost AI computing power

Left 100% Center coverage: 4 sources Right

California, United States

January 13, 2026 (Updated: January 21, 2026) 0 Center Neutral I use tech gadgets

TheWkly Analysis

OpenAI has struck a deal to begin using advanced AI chips from Silicon Valley startup Cerebras Systems, aiming to expand its computing capacity amid soaring demand for AI services. The move diversifies OpenAI’s hardware beyond its reliance on GPUs from industry leaders like Nvidia. According to the company, the Cerebras deployment will eventually draw about 750 megawatts of electricity – a reflection of the massive power needed to train and run cutting-edge AI models. OpenAI’s push for more chips comes as it also plans to add huge numbers of Nvidia and AMD processors, underscoring an industry-wide scramble for computing resources in the AI arms race.

Multiple perspectives analyzed from 4 sources

What this means for you:

•	Better AI services: With boosted computing power, OpenAI could roll out more advanced AI features in products like ChatGPT, potentially making them faster or smarter for users.
•	AI access costs: Massive energy and hardware needs for AI might influence pricing – high demand for chips could mean the cost of AI-powered services or subscriptions could stay high or even rise.
•	Energy footprint: The fact that AI datacenters require hundreds of megawatts raises environmental questions. Consumers and regulators may increasingly consider the energy usage behind seemingly “cloud-based” AI tools you use every day.
•	Tech competition: If OpenAI’s model of diversifying chips succeeds, it could spur competition among chipmakers (Nvidia, AMD, Cerebras) to innovate. This competition might lead to better technology and, eventually, more accessible AI for consumers as efficiency improves.
•	Job and industry impact: Investments in AI infrastructure often signal future growth – more chips and computing power could accelerate AI development, influencing job markets (demand for AI specialists, datacenter technicians) and raising the bar for what AI applications can do in sectors like healthcare, education, or entertainment.

Key Entities

• OpenAI - Leading AI research company (creator of ChatGPT) rapidly scaling up its computing infrastructure to train and run large AI models.
• Cerebras Systems - A semiconductor startup known for its massive AI-specific chips (wafer-scale processors) that OpenAI will now deploy to enhance AI computations.
• Nvidia - Dominant GPU manufacturer previously supplying most of OpenAI’s chips; still central to OpenAI’s plans but now joined by new players in OpenAI’s ecosystem.
• AMD - Another major chipmaker; OpenAI has indicated it also plans to incorporate AMD’s AI-capable processors to diversify and expand its compute resources.

Bias Distribution

Left: 0% (0 sources)

Center: 100% (4 sources)

Right: 0% (0 sources)

Multi-Perspective Analysis

Left-Leaning View

Raises concerns about environmental and equity impacts, calling for oversight of AI expansion.

Centrist View

Treats the partnership as practical capacity-building, weighing innovation against power-use and supply-chain constraints.

Right-Leaning View

Frames it as U.S. tech leadership and competitiveness, emphasizing innovation and job creation and downplaying regulation.

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