OpenAI and Broadcom have announced a long-term collaboration for the co-development and deployment of artificial intelligence accelerators and network equipment that will add 10 gigawatts (GW) of data center capacity. The move places both companies at the center of the race to secure computing in a growing market.
The agreement states that OpenAI will design the chips and systems that accompany them, while Broadcom will be responsible for their development and installation in its own and partner infrastructures. The plan is to begin assembling the first racks in the second half of 2026 and complete deployment before the end of 2029, relying on Broadcom Ethernet technology and connectivity.
What the collaboration includes and who does what
The alliance covers the custom accelerator design and network architecture, with OpenAI setting the specifications and Broadcom leading the development and operational deployment. The entire solution relies on Ethernet and Broadcom's connectivity portfolio, including optical and PCIe options, with the goal of facilitating open and scalable clusters.
The objective is to capture in hardware what was learned by training and serving advanced models, achieving improved performance and energy efficiency. The racks will be installed in OpenAI data centers and partner facilities, enabling rapid and coordinated capacity growth.
In parallel, OpenAI is making progress in its own semiconductors, especially those aimed at inference phase of its models, while Broadcom contributes its expertise in switching, high-speed links and optical solutions to reduce bottlenecks.
Project schedule, capacity and scope
The roadmap sets the start of the deployment in 2026 and its completion before 2030, with a total volume of 10 GW. To give you an idea, one gigawatt is close to the typical capacity of a conventional nuclear power plant, and 10 GW is equivalent to the consumption of more than eight million US households, which gives a measure of the challenge.
This scale increases the pressure on power grids and energy providers, as AI data centers require intensive use of electricity and cooling. Companies are therefore assuming a gradual rollout, coordinated with cloud operators and hosting partners to ensure supply and continuity.
Market impact and financial details
The companies have not revealed economic conditions of the agreement, and OpenAI emphasizes that it does not include investment or equity components, unlike other pacts in the sector. Various market estimates suggest that the startup could mobilize between $350.000 billion and $500.000 billion additional to support infrastructure expansion.
The news was immediately reflected in the stock market: Broadcom shares rebounded around 9%–10% After the agreement was announced, in line with the investor appetite for everything related to AI infrastructure and with the positive tone that the value had already been showing.
How it fits with other OpenAI partners
The agreement with Broadcom adds to other OpenAI partnerships to diversify its ecosystem and secure computing. In recent weeks, the company has placed orders equivalent to 10 GW with Nvidia and has announced another agreement with AMD for 6 GW, in addition to a data center contract with Oracle valued at around 300.000 million dollars in five years, according to industry reports and press releases.
By investing in Ethernet and open solutions, OpenAI reduces its dependence on proprietary architectures and gains scope to optimize costs and availability. The approach, in the words of involved executives, allows for "controlling technological destiny" by adjusting everything from the chip to the service.
Declarations and technological ambition
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, argues that collaborating with Broadcom is key to build the infrastructure that the next wave of AI demands and bring real benefits to businesses and citizens. Hardware customization, he says, allows for efficiencies that are difficult to achieve with general-purpose processors.
For Hock Tan, president and CEO of Broadcom, the project marks a turning point in building large-scale AI platformsThe executive frames the 10 GW as the spearhead of a new generation of accelerators and networks that will define the next decade of the sector.
Greg Brockman, co-founder and president of OpenAI, qualifies that the leap in capacity is just the first stage of a much larger effort, necessary to achieve more ambitious AI goals. The company has been working with Broadcom for over a year and a half, fine-tuning the design and integration.
From Broadcom, Charlie Kawwas emphasizes that the alliance sets a new bar for open, scalable, and efficient clustersAt the same time, remember that adopting critical infrastructure takes time: the sector will need to mature gradually, without expecting complete transformations in just five years.
The transaction strengthens OpenAI's self-sufficiency and consolidates Broadcom's position as a central supplier of networks and semiconductors in AI data centers, while opening a debate on costs, energy, and financing that will accompany the industry for years to come.
