According to a report in the New York Times, senior executives at TSMC allegedly referred to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as a “podcasting bro” following a meeting. Altman had been pitching his ambitious plans to invest trillions of dollars in AI technology, involving Asian manufacturing capabilities, Middle Eastern funding, and U.S. regulatory support.

The scale of Altman’s proposed investment was deemed ‘absurd’ by TSMC execs, who are said to have openly questioned the feasibility of his plans. During a visit to Taiwan, Altman reportedly proposed a $7 trillion investment over several years, aiming to build 36 new semiconductor plants and data centers to advance AI.

Despite Altman’s aspirations, his vision has not been well-received by TSMC, which has raised concerns about the risks involved in implementing even a fraction of his ideas. This sentiment echoes statements made by TSMC Chairman Dr. C. C. Wei during the company’s 2024 Annual Shareholders' Meeting, who expressed skepticism about Altman’s aggressive approach.

Altman’s visit to South Korea with Samsung and SK hynix representatives was also thwarted by national security concerns, as countries like the UAE maintained relationships with China at the time. However, recent developments, such as a meeting between President Biden and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed of the UAE, suggest that collaboration on AI may be a new area of cooperation.

OpenAI’s business model remains a point of contention, with the company’s annual revenue of approximately $3 billion overshadowed by its $7 billion in expenses. Despite Altman’s belief that AI will be as transformative as electricity, the lack of a 'killer app' for AI in major tech products like Microsoft's Copilot and Apple's iPhone 16 and 16 Pro has yet to materialize.