Former Google boss bets on NVIDIA in the AI race: “When Microsoft did the OpenAI deal, it was the stupidest idea I’d ever heard”

Former Google boss bets on NVIDIA in the AI race: "When Microsoft did the OpenAI deal, it was the stupidest idea I’d ever heard"

What you need to know

  • Despite Microsoft and OpenAI’s vast resources and talent, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says NVIDIA will win the AI race.
  • The CEO attributes his predictions to the high demand for GPUs by Microsoft and OpenAI from NVIDIA to facilitate their AI projects.
  • Microsoft and OpenAI have reportedly invested $100 billion in a project dubbed Stargate to free themselves from an overreliance on NVIDIA for AI chips. 

As a seasoned researcher who has witnessed the meteoric rise of AI in the tech industry, I find myself increasingly intrigued by the developments surrounding NVIDIA and its competitors. The former Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s assertion that NVIDIA will be the biggest winner in the AI race is an interesting perspective to consider.


Every significant technology company is eager to join the artificial intelligence movement. Companies such as Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google have had some level of success in this field, but it’s been suggested by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt (through CNBC) that NVIDIA could potentially come out on top in the AI competition.

It’s worth noting that Schmidt suggested Google passed up an advantage in AI development due to their work-from-home policy, allowing startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic to gain a significant edge. Moreover, Schmidt commented that these startups thrive because their teams are incredibly dedicated.

Paul Buchheit, who works for Gmail development, expressed views similar to others but highlighted Alphabet’s corporate restructuring, which put Sundar Pichai in charge as CEO. This reorg seemed to move the founders into less prominent roles, halting their AI aspirations temporarily while the company concentrated on preserving its search engine supremacy.

Although Microsoft has significantly invested in OpenAI from the start, Schmidt argues that NVIDIA holds a leading position in the AI competition. He explains that many tech firms entering this emerging field primarily depend on NVIDIA for their AI processing units (chips).

In simpler terms, Schmidt shared that he’s having discussions with major companies, and they’re expressing significant financial demands ranging from $20 billion to $100 billion. He emphasized that this is a substantial challenge. Given this context, it seems clear that the majority of AI project resources being invested by tech giants are directed towards NVIDIA for AI processors.

Despite the unstable state of the stock market, NVIDIA has experienced a substantial increase in market value, making it the globe’s most valuable company, surpassing Apple and Microsoft with a market capitalization of approximately $3.335 trillion. Previously, NVIDIA was recognized as the world’s most profitable chip brand, and notable companies like Microsoft and Meta were among its top clients.

According to Google’s erstwhile CEO:

If all $300 billion are flowing towards Nvidia, it’s clear that investing in the stock market might be something to consider. However, this isn’t advice for buying stocks.

According to Schmidt, it’s not just NVIDIA that stands to benefit significantly from investments in AI; other significant players in the industry are also likely to share the spotlight. By investing in NVIDIA and its data centers, major tech companies will be strategically positioned to excel in the competition for AI dominance.

Admittedly, Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership is complicated, but Schmidt says:

“When Microsoft partnered with OpenAI, I initially found it hard to comprehend, given it seemed like giving away control of their AI dominance to an external party such as OpenAI and its founders Sam and his team. However, they’re now on a path towards becoming the most valuable company.”

After investors began expressing worries about Microsoft’s significant investments in AI initiatives yielding minimal profit, this event transpired.

Is Stargate the way out for Microsoft and OpenAI?

Former Google boss bets on NVIDIA in the AI race: "When Microsoft did the OpenAI deal, it was the stupidest idea I’d ever heard"

As a long-time tech enthusiast with over two decades of experience in the industry, I am thrilled about Microsoft and OpenAI’s recent move to invest billions into their self-sustaining AI chip project, Stargate. Having witnessed the rapid growth and dependency on NVIDIA for AI chips, this strategic initiative represents a significant step towards breaking free from such overreliance. This decision aligns with my belief that technological advancement is driven by competition and innovation, as it encourages both companies to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of artificial intelligence.

Based on current reports, Stargate is expected to be launched in 2028. But it’s projected that around 30% of AI projects might not make it past the proof-of-concept stage by 2028, due to concerns about their high water and power consumption, which is becoming increasingly problematic.

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2024-08-19 11:39