Open AI to Buy AI Chips Worth $51 Million From Startup Rain, Backed by Altman

• Blockchain Council
• December 15, 2023

In a groundbreaking move, OpenAI, the forefront non-profit AI research entity, is set to inject $51 million into Rain AI, a startup specializing in cutting-edge neuromorphic processors (NPUs). This strategic alliance, rooted in a letter of intent signed in 2019, underscores OpenAI’s unwavering commitment to acquiring Rain AI’s NPUs upon their commercial release.

The ever-evolving landscape of AI technology demands specialized hardware, pushing companies to innovate for personalized customer experiences. Rain AI’s NPUs, aptly named “Digital Dendrites,” draw inspiration from the intricate structure and efficiency of the human brain. This design philosophy positions them as a promising solution for the intensive computational demands of AI tasks, offering efficient information processing with minimal power consumption.

Rain AI, established in 2017, focuses on developing NPUs designed to emulate the human brain’s structure and function. These processors, though still in development, boast the potential to outshine traditional GPUs in both power and energy efficiency, with Rain AI claiming a staggering 100 times more power and 10,000 times greater energy efficiency.

The startup has garnered support from influential investors, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Aramco Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco. Furthermore, Rain AI reports collaborations with major technology companies such as Google, Oracle, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.

However, Rain AI faces challenges, including the ongoing development of its NPUs and stiff competition from established players like Nvidia, Google, and Amazon in the AI hardware market.

Neuromorphic processors operate differently from traditional CPUs and GPUs, mimicking the brain’s neural connections. They excel in parallel processing and distributed computation, making them well-suited for AI tasks. Key aspects of NPUs include inputs and synapses, synaptic weighting, neuronal activation, learning and adaptation, and parallel processing.

Rain AI’s NPUs offer several advantages crucial for AI development, including enhanced performance and efficiency, lower power consumption, specialized features tailored for AI workloads, reduced latency, and the ability to enable complex AI models.

Despite recent corporate changes at OpenAI, including Sam Altman’s reinstatement as CEO, the company maintains a strategic focus on technological advancements. Altman’s involvement with Rain AI aligns with OpenAI’s pursuit of cutting-edge solutions for AI development. The $51 million investment in Rain AI’s NPUs reflects OpenAI’s commitment to overcoming the challenges of AI chip shortages and advancing the field.

Altman’s dual role as an investor in Rain AI and OpenAI’s CEO has drawn attention, especially considering OpenAI’s significant investment in Rain AI’s future technology. The potential conflict of interest highlights the intricate relationships shaping the AI industry’s landscape.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) closely monitors Rain AI’s activities. Concerns about the involvement of Saudi-based Prosperity7 Ventures led to a forced divestment, showcasing the government’s commitment to safeguarding national security.

Rain AI’s journey, marked by reshuffled leadership and investor dynamics, underscores the challenges in bringing novel chip technology to market. The forced divestment by Prosperity7 Ventures, mandated by CFIUS, may impact Rain AI’s timeline for delivering on OpenAI’s $51 million advance order.

As AI technology advances, NPUs are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of AI applications. OpenAI’s strategic investments and collaborations, despite internal shifts, demonstrate a commitment to staying at the forefront of AI innovation.

OpenAI’s $51 million investment in Rain AI signifies a strategic move to address AI hardware challenges and embrace innovative solutions. The collaboration between OpenAI and Rain AI exemplifies the dynamic nature of the AI industry, where advancements in hardware are integral to unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence.