Sora 2 and ChatGPT are consuming so much power that OpenAI just did another 10 gigawatt deal

OpenAI has announced a significant partnership with Broadcom, embarking on an ambitious project to create 10 gigawatts of specialized AI chips and systems. This immense energy requirement is comparable to that consumed by a large city, underscoring the escalating power demands of the AI industry. This collaboration marks another milestone for OpenAI as it continues to seek partnerships with leading chip manufacturers. Following previous agreements with Nvidia and AMD, the alliance with Broadcom aims to bolster the computing resources necessary for OpenAI's expanding user base, which currently boasts 800 million weekly users. Notably, an executive hinted on social media that the newly launched Sora video generation app is experiencing growth rates surpassing those of ChatGPT. "Teaming up with Broadcom is a vital move towards building the infrastructure that will unlock the full potential of AI, providing real-world benefits for individuals and organizations alike," stated Sam Altman, OpenAI's co-founder and CEO, in the official announcement. The rollout of these AI accelerators and network systems is scheduled to begin in the latter half of 2026. According to reports, the energy consumption from this deal could equate to that of 8 million U.S. households, raising environmental concerns regarding AI's ecological footprint. A recent Department of Energy report indicated that data centers are projected to consume between 6.7% and 12% of the total electricity in the U.S. by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023. Altman has previously noted that a single query on ChatGPT consumes energy equivalent to that of a lightbulb over a few minutes. However, producing high-quality video content with advanced models like Sora 2 is expected to be considerably more energy-intensive. Following the announcement, Broadcom's stock price surged by 12% on Monday, reflecting investor optimism. By developing custom AI accelerators, OpenAI is positioning itself to play a more significant role in the hardware landscape that supports its AI services. The company acknowledged that this collaboration will allow it to integrate insights from its cutting-edge models directly into the hardware, paving the way for enhanced capabilities and intelligence. This announcement follows Broadcom CEO Hock Tan's earlier remarks during an earnings call about securing a new $10 billion customer, widely believed to be OpenAI.