OpenAI and Synopsys are building a chip-design model

OpenAI and Synopsys signed a multi-year agreement to build GPT-Synopsys, a specialized model for semiconductor design workflows.

The companies say the model will combine OpenAI frontier models with Synopsys electronic design automation tools and chip-design expertise. The goal is not just to answer questions about chip design, but to operate Synopsys tools directly: run design and verification steps, interpret outputs, make changes and iterate toward results that engineers can review.

Synopsys says OpenAI will license its EDA tools for development of the model. The companies also plan joint go-to-market work and a shared revenue framework. Reuters reported that the deal includes revenue sharing as the companies develop an AI model for chip-design customers.

The practical bet is that frontier models can become expert users of the software stack behind advanced chips. If it works, engineers could explore more design alternatives and optimize power, performance, area, timing and verification faster than with today’s agent wrappers around general-purpose models.

Synopsys says early technology engagements are already underway with leading semiconductor customers, and that customer-specific design data will not be used to train the model.