Why everyone from OpenAI to SpaceX is building their own chips (and turning up the heat on Nvidia)

OpenAI, Google, Apple, and SpaceX are developing custom AI chips to reduce reliance on Nvidia, aiming for better performance and supply chain control. OpenAI's Jalapeño chip, built with Broadcom, exemplifies this trend as companies seek to hedge against single-supplier risk.

Nvidia has dominated the AI chip market for years, but the era of total dependence might be ending. OpenAI just shared its plans to spice things up with Jalapeño, its custom inference chip built with Broadcom https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/24/openai-unveils-its-first-custom-chip-built-by-broadcom/ , joining Google, Apple, and SpaceX in a growing list of companies building their way out of single-supplier risk. The goal is less of a clean break and more of a hedge. Custom silicon means more control, hardware tuned to specific needs, and the kind of performance gains Apple unlocked when it ditched Intel. On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/equity/ podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into what the custom chip trend means for the industry and a few deals of the week worth watching. Subscribe to Equity on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TechCrunch , Apple Podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1215439780 , Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1215439780/equity , Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=rZDFHv2sQUul g94iCRgpQ and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X https://twitter.com/EquityPod and Threads https://www.threads.net/@equitypod , at @EquityPod.