OpenAI and Synopsys Develop AI Chip Model
Synopsys and OpenAI have signed a multi-year agreement to develop GPT-Synopsys, a specialised AI model for semiconductor design. The partnership combines OpenAI’s frontier AI with Synopsys’ electronic design automation (EDA) software and chip-design expertise.
The companies announced the agreement on September 30, 2026. Meanwhile, they will work together on research, product development and global commercialisation under a shared revenue framework.
GPT-Synopsys Targets Complex Chip Design
GPT-Synopsys will focus on semiconductor design workflows that involve multiple engineering stages. These include circuit design, verification, timing optimisation, and power, performance and area (PPA) optimisation.
Furthermore, OpenAI will license Synopsys EDA tools to develop and train the specialised model. The system will learn to operate these tools, interpret their results and repeatedly refine designs.
As a result, engineers could delegate specific design objectives to AI agents. The agents would then run the relevant tools, assess results and propose further changes. Engineers will continue to review the resulting designs before implementation.
The approach moves beyond connecting a general-purpose AI model to engineering software. Instead, the companies aim to create a model that understands chip-design workflows and uses EDA tools as part of its reasoning process.
Revenue Sharing and Customer Testing
The partnership includes a shared revenue model. According to Synopsys CEO Sassine Ghazi, OpenAI will pay a training subscription fee while customer use of the finished product will generate shared revenue.
Moreover, Synopsys expects the arrangement to add value to its existing software business. The company said the AI product is intended to complement its EDA tools rather than replace them.
Early technology engagements with semiconductor customers are already underway. In addition, GPT-Synopsys will run on OpenAI-hosted infrastructure and integrate with Synopsys.ai and the Synopsys Autopilot agentic AI platform.
Customer data will also be subject to enterprise security controls. Synopsys says customer data will not be used to train the model and will remain encrypted at rest and in transit. Configurable retention, audit and permission controls will also be available.
AI Moves Deeper Into Semiconductor Engineering
The partnership comes as semiconductor companies face increasingly complex chip-design requirements. At the same time, AI is becoming more involved in engineering workflows that traditionally required specialised software and human expertise.
Synopsys says the collaboration could help engineers explore more design alternatives while reducing development time. OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman also said the work could help engineers reach functional chips faster.
However, AI-generated designs still require rigorous verification. Synopsys tools will therefore continue to check designs using established engineering methods before final approval.
The partnership also aligns with Synopsys’ broader strategy around AI-driven engineering. Consequently, GPT-Synopsys could become part of a wider shift toward AI agents operating specialised engineering tools across the semiconductor industry.
