OpenAI Searches for US Hardware Partners as AI Infrastructure Push Accelerates

Summary

• OpenAI is actively seeking US-based hardware partners to support its expansion into physical devices and large-scale data centres.

• The move signals a strategic shift as OpenAI looks to control more of the infrastructure behind its AI models.

• Increased domestic partnerships could reduce supply risk while strengthening OpenAI’s long-term competitive position.

OpenAI is hunting for US hardware partners as it pushes deeper into devices and data centres. The move reflects how central infrastructure has become to OpenAI’s long-term strategy.

As AI models grow larger and more power-hungry, OpenAI faces rising demand for compute, energy, and specialised hardware. Relying solely on third-party cloud providers may no longer be enough to support its ambitions.

By engaging US hardware partners, OpenAI could gain tighter control over supply chains and deployment timelines. Domestic partnerships also reduce exposure to geopolitical and manufacturing risks.

The interest in devices suggests OpenAI is thinking beyond software alone. Owning or influencing hardware could allow OpenAI to optimise performance, cost, and user experience in ways software layers cannot.

Data centres remain the backbone of OpenAI’s operations as training and inference workloads continue to scale. Securing dedicated hardware capacity would give OpenAI more predictability as demand accelerates.

For investors and industry watchers, this shift signals a maturing business model. OpenAI is no longer just building models but shaping the infrastructure required to run them at global scale.

Competition in AI infrastructure is intensifying as rivals race to lock in hardware access. OpenAI’s search for partners highlights how strategic control of compute may define the next phase of AI leadership.