OpenAI is reportedly planning to purchase artificial intelligence chips from Alphabet-owned Google as the ChatGPT developer looks to expand its computing capacity and diversify its semiconductor suppliers amid growing demand for AI infrastructure.
The Information reported on October 27, citing a person familiar with the matter, that OpenAI intends to acquire Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are designed to handle computational workloads associated with artificial intelligence.
The proposed purchase would mark a further development in the relationship between the two companies, which compete in generative AI products, chatbots and online search.
However, neither company has confirmed the proposed transaction. The financial terms, number of chips and expected timeline for the purchase have not been disclosed.
According to Reuters, OpenAI declined to comment on the report, while Google did not immediately respond to its request for comment.
OpenAI currently relies heavily on Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) to train its AI models and operate services such as ChatGPT. Nvidia remains one of the company's principal hardware suppliers.
The reported plan to acquire Google chips comes as AI developers seek additional computing resources to support increasingly complex models and growing demand for inference, the process through which trained AI systems generate responses.
Google's TPUs have emerged as an alternative to Nvidia's GPUs for certain AI workloads. Developed initially for Google's internal computing requirements, the processors are now being made available to a wider range of customers.
Reuters reported in June 2025 that OpenAI had begun renting Google's AI chips, indicating an existing relationship involving computing infrastructure.
A direct purchase would represent a different arrangement from accessing processors through rented cloud capacity, although the structure of the reported transaction remains unclear.
Google has also expanded the commercial availability of its processors beyond its own cloud infrastructure. The company began selling TPUs directly to selected customers in 2026.
Separately, Oracle announced on October 27 that it would make Google's TPUs available through its cloud infrastructure, expanding the options for businesses seeking access to the processors.
OpenAI is also developing its own AI chips in collaboration with Broadcom as part of its efforts to secure additional processing capacity for its models and services.
The company's approach involves working with multiple hardware providers rather than depending exclusively on a single supplier.
For Google, supplying processors to external AI developers represents an expansion of its semiconductor business, even as it competes with those companies in consumer and enterprise AI services.
The reported discussions come amid increasing investment in data centres and specialised processors across the technology industry.
While a potential agreement could broaden OpenAI's access to AI computing infrastructure, the scale and commercial implications of any purchase will remain uncertain until further details are disclosed.
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