OpenAI taps Google in unprecedented cloud deal despite AI rivalry, sources say
OpenAI plans to add Alphabet's Google cloud service to meet its growing needs for computing capacity, three sources told Reuters, marking a surprising collaboration between two prominent competitors in the artificial intelligence sector.
The deal, which has been under discussion for a few months, was finalised in May, one of the sources added. It underscores how massive computing demands to train and deploy AI models are reshaping the competitive dynamics in AI, and marks OpenAI's latest move to diversify its compute sources beyond its major supporter Microsoft, including its high-profile Stargate data centre project.
It is a win for Google's cloud unit, which will supply additional computing capacity to OpenAI's existing infrastructure for training and running its AI models, sources said, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. The move also comes as OpenAI's ChatGPT poses the biggest threat to Google's dominant search business in years, with Google executives recently saying that the AI race may not be winner-take-all.
OpenAI, Google and Microsoft declined to comment.
Scotiabank analysts called the development 'somewhat surprising' in a note on Tuesday, highlighting the growth opportunities for Google's Cloud unit, while expressing caution regarding competition from ChatGPT.
The logo of Google is shown on a building in San Diego, California, October 9, 2024. Photo: Reuters
'The deal … underscores the fact that the two are willing to overlook heavy competition between them to meet the massive computing demands. Ultimately, we view this as a big win for Google's cloud unit, but … there are continued worries that ChatGPT is becoming an incrementally larger threat to Google's search dominance,' the analysts wrote.
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