OpenAI Launches Jalapeño Custom Inference Chip
OpenAI has unveiled 'Jalapeño', its first custom-built AI inference processor co-designed with Broadcom, optimised for running large language models at reduced cost and power consumption. The move deepens OpenAI's vertical integration across the full AI stack — from chip silicon through to end-user products — introducing new hardware supply chain dependencies and firmware-level attack surfaces that defenders must now account for. Security teams should treat purpose-built AI silicon as a new tier of the ML supply chain, with unique risks around hardware backdoors, firmware integrity, and reduced hardware diversity.