Sora 2 and ChatGPT energy demand pushes OpenAI into a 10-gigawatt Broadcom partnership

Key Points:

• OpenAI partners with Broadcom for 10 gigawatts of custom AI chip infrastructure.

• AI power consumption now equals that of entire cities.

• ChatGPT has 800 million weekly users, while Sora 2 grows even faster.

• The deal could reshape how OpenAI manages its energy and chip strategy.

Sora 2 and ChatGPT energy demand is reaching new extremes as OpenAI moves to secure a massive 10-gigawatt supply deal with Broadcom.

This partnership will create custom AI chips to power OpenAI’s expanding data centers and support the growing global usage of its tools. The power required equals the energy consumption of a large city.

From my standpoint, this move shows how AI has become both a technical marvel and an energy challenge. As ChatGPT serves 800 million weekly users and Sora 2 gains traction faster than its predecessor, OpenAI’s infrastructure faces unprecedented strain.

AI’s energy hunger grows with OpenAI’s expansion

AI power consumption is now a defining factor for technology companies. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers could soon consume between 6.7% and 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023. OpenAI’s Broadcom partnership underscores the urgency to design efficient chips that reduce waste while supporting the exponential growth of AI use.

Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, said in a press release that “partnering with Broadcom is a critical step in building the infrastructure needed to unlock AI’s potential and deliver real benefits for people and businesses.” His statement reflects a clear focus on sustainability through smarter hardware rather than simple expansion.

Broadcom’s stock rose 12% on Monday after the deal was announced, showing strong investor confidence in the AI sector’s long-term profitability.

Custom AI chips could change the game for OpenAI

OpenAI has relied on Nvidia and AMD for AI chips. Now, developing its own custom AI chips with Broadcom offers control over how energy is used at every step. By embedding lessons from frontier model training into hardware, OpenAI aims to boost performance while managing energy efficiency.

The company’s goal is not just about having more computing power, but smarter power. Custom chips can optimize workloads, cut redundancy, and extend the life of data centers already near capacity.

AI power consumption continues to rise, and OpenAI is moving to anticipate future demand before it overwhelms existing infrastructure. The deal with Broadcom covers 10 gigawatts — roughly equivalent to powering 8 million U.S. homes.

Sora 2 outpaces ChatGPT in growth

Sora 2’s rapid growth adds another layer of complexity. Video generation consumes much more energy than text-based AI responses. Each ChatGPT query already uses as much power as a lightbulb running for several minutes. Sora 2’s realistic video generation pushes energy requirements much higher.

The combined Sora 2 and ChatGPT energy demand highlights the new era of AI’s environmental footprint. As more users embrace these services, the global infrastructure must adapt quickly to support both demand and sustainability goals.

Deployment of the new AI accelerator systems is expected in the second half of 2026. If successful, OpenAI will not only expand its computing capabilities but also set a new industry standard for balancing performance with energy awareness.

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AI’s future depends on smarter energy design

The OpenAI Broadcom partnership could mark a turning point. AI is now too large and energy-hungry to rely only on off-the-shelf chips. A tailored approach, focusing on both scalability and sustainability, might be the only way forward.

As AI power consumption becomes a national concern, governments and corporations alike are watching closely. Data centers are expanding globally, but energy grids are not keeping pace. The 10-gigawatt investment might be one of the first in a long line of energy-conscious moves across the industry.

For OpenAI, this is more than an infrastructure upgrade—it’s a necessity. As one of the most influential AI companies, its response to energy challenges could shape the future of the entire AI ecosystem.

Energy defines AI’s next chapter

The Sora 2 and ChatGPT energy demand story shows where AI is heading: toward incredible capability paired with massive responsibility. The 10-gigawatt Broadcom partnership signals that OpenAI is preparing not only for more users but also for a world where power management is as vital as innovation.

The next frontier for AI will not be about smarter algorithms alone. It will be about how intelligently we power them.