Looks like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman just announced that the company is officially out of GPUs. That’s right, one of the world’s biggest AI powerhouses is struggling to get its hands on the hardware it needs to keep ChatGPT running. Maybe they should’ve stocked up during Black Friday?

Altman admitted, “We’ve been growing a lot and are out of GPUs”. No kidding, Sam. In response, OpenAI plans to add tens of thousands of GPUs in the coming weeks, but priority will, of course, go to Plus subscribers. So if you thought your free-tier GPT experience was already lagging, brace yourself.

Why Is There a GPU Shortage?

If you’re wondering why OpenAI, of all companies, can’t get GPUs, it’s because everyone is fighting over them. AI is booming, and companies like NVIDIA just can’t pump out enough of these coveted chips. Meanwhile, OpenAI is working on a backup plan, partnering with Broadcom to create its own AI chips, which might be ready by 2026. Sounds promising, but also, good luck surviving until then.

The Future of AI Computing

With GPUs becoming harder to find than an affordable Bay Area apartment, some are turning to creative solutions. A new wave of entrepreneurs is building decentralized computing networks using underutilized GPUs in gaming rigs, university labs, and who knows, maybe even your dusty old PC from 2015.

In the meantime, OpenAI is scrambling to scale up its infrastructure while we, the humble users, wait to see if our AI overlords can keep things running smoothly. But hey, if things get worse, maybe we should all chip in and start a GoFundMe for Sam.