OpenAI backs federal chip, job and security push, says it hasn't sought direct aid
When Congress began debating subsidies for new semiconductor factories, OpenAI suddenly landed under a microscope. The buzz that once centered on product launches now feels more like a policy crossroads - lawmakers and industry heads are asking whether the AI pioneer should lean on federal resources. The broader tech community seems to be pushing for more U.S.
chip output, new jobs, and tighter national-security safeguards, but OpenAI’s role in that mix is getting extra scrutiny. Critics wonder if the company is angling for special treatment, especially as the debate over chip subsidies heats up. Sam Altman, the CEO, pushed back, saying OpenAI hasn’t formally asked for any guarantees from the government.
He also argues that any public money should be spread across the field, not funneled to a single player. It’s unclear how the tug-of-war between public-policy aims and private ambitions will play out, but that tension frames the comments that follow.
OpenAI, like other tech companies, has joined federal efforts to boost American chip manufacturing, create jobs, and strengthen national security. But Altman says OpenAI hasn't asked for direct government guarantees, and any public funding should support the whole industry, not just one company. OpenAI expects $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of the year OpenAI plans to spend about $1.4 trillion over the next eight years.
Altman says revenue should top $20 billion a year by the end of 2024, and could grow to "hundreds of billions" by 2030. Earlier projections put 2025 revenue at $13 billion, but Altman has already said the real numbers are "well more" than that. For comparison, OpenAI's 2023 revenue reportedly was $1.3 billion.
To hit these targets, OpenAI is expanding into enterprise tools, consumer devices, robotics, and selling access to computing power through its "AI Cloud." Altman says OpenAI needs to invest at this scale to keep up with demand for computing power. He points out that the company is already holding back new features and models because capacity is limited, and he expects demand for AI to surge--especially in science and medicine--even though there's still no evidence that generative AI can deliver real scientific breakthroughs. "Based on the trends we are seeing of how people are using AI and how much of it they would like to use, we believe the risk to OpenAI of not having enough computing power is more significant and more likely than the risk of having too much." Sam Altman Altman pushes back on the idea that OpenAI is indispensable or systemically important.
OpenAI’s October 27 letter asked for grants, cost-sharing deals, loans or loan guarantees to boost its industrial capacity - a request that feels at odds with Sam Altman’s later claim that the firm isn’t after subsidies. Altman has said any public money should go to the industry at large, not just to one company. Yet on social media, folks like AI commentator Gary Marcus have called out the apparent mismatch.
The company has, after all, signed on with other tech players in federal pushes to grow U.S. chip output, add jobs and shore up national security. So the public stance and the written appeal send mixed signals.
It’s still unclear whether OpenAI will actually get or chase that support, and we can’t yet gauge what effect it would have on day-to-day operations. The whole episode highlights the friction between lobbying moves and professed independence. I expect we’ll be watching closely how OpenAI lines up its policy talk with its lobbying activity, and future filings might finally draw a clearer line.
Related Reading
Browse all OpenAI news →
Policy & Regulation X users can no longer tag @grok for image edits; feature not paywalled
Policy & Regulation Dutch Government Assumes Control of Chipmaker Nexperia Amid Tech Tensions
Policy & Regulation Indian IT firms view data platforms as IP amid cloud‑partner reliance
Related Topic Consensus uses GPT-5 and Responses API to speed scientific research
Research & Benchmarks
Related Topic Developers say Sora, unlike Vine/TikTok, is not about people in social media
Research & Benchmarks
Common Questions Answered
Has OpenAI explicitly requested direct government guarantees or subsidies in its recent federal chip and security push?
According to the article, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman says the company has not asked for direct government guarantees. While a letter dated October 27 requested grants, cost‑sharing deals, loans, or loan guarantees, Altman emphasizes that any public money should benefit the broader industry, not just OpenAI.
What revenue and spending targets did OpenAI disclose in relation to its federal initiatives?
OpenAI expects to generate $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of the year and plans to spend about $1.4 trillion over the next eight years. These figures are presented as part of the company's broader strategy to support U.S. chip manufacturing, job creation, and national‑security goals.
How does OpenAI justify its involvement in the federal effort to boost American chip manufacturing and job creation?
The article notes that OpenAI, like other tech firms, has joined federal efforts to increase U.S. chip output, create new jobs, and strengthen national security. Altman argues that any public funding should be industry‑wide, ensuring that the benefits are not limited to a single company.
What criticism have commentators like Gary Marcus raised about OpenAI's stance on public funding?
Critics, including AI commentator Gary Marcus, point out an apparent inconsistency between OpenAI's request for grants, cost‑sharing deals, and loan guarantees and Altman's later claim that the company is not seeking subsidies. They argue that the company's public statements may conflict with its actual funding requests.