出品｜虎嗅科技组 作者｜宋思杭 编辑｜苗正卿 头图｜视觉中国 在硅谷，今年已经数不清楚究竟上演了多少场如此戏剧性的"对手戏"。最新一场戏的两位主角是硅谷最出名 的两家公司，一家是OpenAI，一家是Apple。 就在本周五，有媒体消息称，OpenAI最近正忙着挖苹果"老将"，包括设计师、硬件工程师、可穿戴设备专家 等等关键角色。 而仅仅是挖走苹果的核心人才，还满足不了奥特曼的硬件"野心"，当然也够不成OpenAI想做硬件、甚至与苹 果抗衡的充分条件。这里面还少了一个关键因素：硬件的供应链。 但稍加留意，就可以注意到奥特曼硬件"野心"的蛛丝马迹：其在过去一年中，已经多次与苹果赖以成名的供 应链厂商展开接触。比如OpenAI曾以数十亿美元收购了由苹果前首席设计官Jony Ive创立的硬件公司；除此 之外，OpenAI还与立讯精密、歌尔声学等苹果供应链的重要合作伙伴建立联系，试图把原型设备从设计推向 量产。 换句话说，OpenAI正在尝试复制苹果的"成功方程式"。在过去，人们习惯于把OpenAI视为纯粹的软件公 司：算法、模型、算力是它的关键词。但现在看来，奥特曼似乎想改写这一叙事。 放在更大的视角，如果OpenA ...

Core Insights - OpenAI is actively recruiting key talent from Apple, including hardware engineers and design experts, indicating a strategic shift towards hardware development [1][6][7] - The company has made significant moves to establish a hardware supply chain, including acquiring a hardware startup founded by Apple's former chief designer and collaborating with major suppliers [4][8] - OpenAI's ambition to enter the hardware market could redefine the AI industry's business models and create new competitive dynamics with established players like Apple [2][21] Group 1: OpenAI's Hardware Strategy - OpenAI's hardware ambitions can be traced back to a 2018 paper on robotic hands, but the focus on commercialization has intensified recently [2][4] - The acquisition of Jony Ive's hardware startup for approximately $6.5 billion enhances OpenAI's design capabilities and signifies a shift from a software-only model to a combined hardware-software approach [4][5] - OpenAI's recruitment of Apple employees with expertise in audio and wearable technology suggests a targeted strategy to build a competitive hardware portfolio [6][7] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - OpenAI's entry into hardware could disrupt Apple's dominance in the smart device market, particularly if OpenAI successfully launches innovative products like AI-powered smart glasses [11][12] - The potential for OpenAI to create an AI-native ecosystem may challenge Apple's tightly integrated iOS ecosystem, which has been a cornerstone of its competitive advantage [13][14] - OpenAI's strategy to develop its own AI chips, similar to Google's TPU and Apple's M-series, indicates a desire for comprehensive control over its hardware and software integration [8][21] Group 3: Market Implications - If OpenAI's hardware initiatives succeed, it could lead to a new revenue model combining hardware sales with subscription services, akin to Apple's business model [21] - The competitive pressure from OpenAI's hardware strategy may force Apple to innovate further to maintain its market position [9][10] - OpenAI's approach may serve as a blueprint for other AI companies, particularly in markets where hardware integration is less common [22][25]

Group 1 - Chongqing is developing a world-class intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry cluster through "collaboration between manufacturers and suppliers, integration of software and hardware, and ecosystem co-construction" [1][3] - Topu Automotive's integrated die-casting technology reduces the weight of aluminum rear subframes by over 30%, lowering energy consumption and extending battery life [1] - The Seer Smart Factory showcases 100% automation in key processes, with a zero-carbon demonstration project generating 15.84 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 13,284 tons [1] Group 2 - Bosch's hydrogen power system in Chongqing features a 300 kW hydrogen power module that can power a 49-ton heavy truck for over 600 kilometers with just over 10 minutes of charging [2] - Chongqing's automotive ecosystem includes leading companies like Changan Automobile and Seer Automobile, with over 10 vehicle manufacturers collaborating [2] - The city aims to produce 2.54 million vehicles and 950,000 new energy vehicles by 2024, with significant growth in production observed from January to July this year [2] Group 3 - Chongqing is building a "convenient supercharging city" to ensure fast charging facilities cover all towns and streets, enhancing logistics, finance, and inspection services [3] - The city has established 349 digital workshops and 52 smart factories in the automotive sector, promoting innovation and collaborative development [3] - Chongqing is striving to become a "city of intelligent connected new energy vehicles" through innovation-driven initiatives [3]

Core Insights - The core focus of the articles is on Li Auto's development of its self-researched autonomous driving chip, M100, which aims to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the future [2][3]. Group 1: Chip Development - Li Auto's self-developed autonomous driving chip M100 has passed critical pre-mass production stages and is currently undergoing road testing with small batches [2]. - The M100 chip demonstrates specific performance characteristics, providing effective computing power comparable to two NVIDIA Thor-U chips for large language model tasks and three for traditional vision tasks [2]. - The company plans to mass-produce the M100 chip next year while continuing to rely on existing partnerships with NVIDIA and Horizon Robotics [2]. Group 2: Financial Investment - The budget allocated for the self-researched chip project is reported to be in the range of several billion dollars [3]. - The development of the autonomous driving chip involves complex work, including hardware and software development, indicating a layered solution approach [3]. Group 3: Strategic Approach - Li Auto employs a dual strategy by using external solutions to maintain current market competitiveness while developing its own chip for future core advantages [4]. - The company is currently using NVIDIA's high-performance chips in its electric vehicle models, such as the flagship MPV MEGA and the new electric SUV i8 [4]. - In its main sales model, the L series, Li Auto adopts a mixed strategy, utilizing either NVIDIA Thor-U or Horizon Robotics' chips based on different versions of its smart driving assistance [5]. Group 4: Technical Challenges - The integration of hardware and software in chip development is complex, requiring deep technical expertise and efficient cross-department collaboration [4]. - The shift towards supporting Transformer architecture in future chip designs poses challenges for manufacturers in terms of foresight and adaptability in hardware-software tuning [4].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes that Horizon Robotics is not merely a chip company but aims to become a software company, focusing on integrated hardware-software systems for autonomous driving, particularly in urban environments [2][4][5]. Group 1: Company Background and Development - Horizon Robotics was founded in 2015, and its founder, Yu Kai, recognized the nearing end of the mobile internet boom, leading the company to focus on robotics chips instead of algorithms [7]. - The company faced significant challenges in 2019, including a reduction in workforce by one-third, but pivoted to focus solely on the automotive sector [7][8]. - Collaborations with major automotive manufacturers like Changan and Li Auto have been pivotal in establishing trust and achieving market penetration [8][10]. Group 2: Market Position and Achievements - Horizon Robotics has achieved over 8 million units of front-mounted production and has a market share of 33.97% in the L2 autonomous driving computing solutions market for domestic brands [13]. - The company claims that one in three smart vehicles is equipped with its technology, projecting rapid growth towards 10 million units [14]. Group 3: Future Vision and Strategy - Horizon Robotics aims to redefine the essence of smart driving, focusing on both functional and emotional value, similar to how smartphones evolved beyond basic communication [15]. - The company plans to transition from L2 to L3 and L5 autonomous driving capabilities, requiring significant computational power and extensive real-world data [18][21]. - The introduction of the Horizon Smart Driving (HSD) system, featuring the Journey 6P chip, is set to enhance urban autonomous driving capabilities and is expected to be launched in 2025 [24][28]. Group 4: Technological Approach and Innovation - The HSD system utilizes a one-piece end-to-end technology architecture, ensuring high performance and efficiency in data processing [24]. - Horizon Robotics emphasizes the importance of a robust software-hardware integration strategy, akin to successful models like Apple and NVIDIA, to maintain a competitive edge [23]. Group 5: Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape - The article discusses the competitive landscape, highlighting that while other companies may have launched similar technologies earlier, Horizon Robotics prioritizes product quality over timing [30]. - The company is aware of the potential pitfalls of technological advancements leading to homogenization in the market and focuses on building a sustainable competitive advantage through consistent R&D efforts [20].