OpenAI now has its own chip. The company revealed “Jalapeño,” its first custom AI accelerator, built in partnership with Broadcom and optimized specifically for inference workloads. The physical sample was delivered on June 24, with initial deployments targeted for late 2026.
From partnership to silicon
OpenAI and Broadcom have been co-developing chips for roughly 18 months, a collaboration that was formally announced back in October 2025. The scope of that original partnership was staggering: 10 gigawatts of custom AI accelerators, with OpenAI handling chip and system design while Broadcom manages development, deployment, and networking.
TSMC, the world’s dominant chip manufacturer, is handling the actual fabrication. That’s the same foundry that produces chips for Apple, AMD, and yes, Nvidia.
The initial rollout follows a phased approach. Late 2026 marks the first deployments, with scaling expected through 2027 and 2028. A full rollout is projected by late 2029.
