Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-10-27 00:13Core Insights - OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman and his core executive team completed a $1.5 trillion chip supply deal with minimal external advisory involvement, raising market interest [1] - The urgency of the AI arms race has overshadowed traditional business prudence, leading OpenAI to prioritize securing chips over addressing financial and legal details [2] - Altman’s vision was supported by a small team led by CFO Sarah Friar and President Greg Brockman, who focused on structuring and governance of the deals [3] Team Dynamics - The core team, including CFO Sarah Friar and President Greg Brockman, played crucial roles in integrating and executing the transactions [3] - Greg Brockman, a founding member of OpenAI, has a background in fintech and is recognized for his ability to navigate complex situations [3] - Sarah Friar, with experience in high-profile financial roles, ensured that the deals received necessary funding support [3] Strategic Partnerships - OpenAI's recent deals stem from a model tested with CoreWeave, which involved a $11.9 billion agreement for computing power in exchange for equity [5] - The partnership with Nvidia includes a potential investment of up to $100 billion in exchange for a commitment to spend up to $350 billion on chips [7] - OpenAI's collaboration with Oracle began unexpectedly when a data center became available, showcasing the company's agility in seizing opportunities [8] Direct Negotiations - OpenAI engaged directly with chip manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD without seeking external advice, relying on established relationships [7] - AMD provided OpenAI with warrants to purchase up to 10% of its shares at a nominal price in exchange for chip purchases [7] - The approach of bypassing traditional advisory roles aimed to streamline negotiations and reduce confrontational dynamics [5]