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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, has approved plans to invest up to $1 billion (approximately ₹9,400 crore) in artificial intelligence companies OpenAI and Anthropic. The decision marks an expansion of TSMC’s involvement in the AI industry, moving beyond semiconductor manufacturing to direct investments in two leading AI developers.
The company’s board approved the investments on November 10, allocating up to $500 million (approximately ₹4,700 crore) each to OpenAI and Anthropic.
The move comes as demand for AI-related chips continues to exceed TSMC’s manufacturing capacity, even as concerns grow over the scale of spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.
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TSMC Approves Investments in OpenAI and Anthropic
According to Reuters, TSMC’s board approved an investment of up to $500 million in Anthropic through the purchase of shares at the company’s initial public offering (IPO) price.
The chipmaker also approved an investment of up to $500 million in preferred shares of OpenAI.
The combined investment could reach $1 billion, although the approvals do not establish that the full amount has already been invested.
TSMC is a major semiconductor manufacturer whose advanced chips are used by technology companies developing and operating artificial intelligence systems.
Its customers include Nvidia, whose graphics processing units are widely used to train and run AI models.
By acquiring stakes in OpenAI and Anthropic, TSMC is seeking exposure to the growth of AI companies beyond its existing role as a supplier of semiconductor manufacturing services.
The investment decision comes at a time when companies are increasing spending on AI infrastructure despite concerns about the sustainability of such expenditure.
Anthropic Targets $1.4 Trillion Valuation in Major IPO
TSMC’s investment plans coincide with Anthropic’s preparations for a major stock market listing.
The developer of the Claude AI models has priced its initial public offering at $70 to $78 per share, targeting a valuation of up to $1.4 trillion (approximately ₹131.6 lakh crore).
The proposed listing could become one of the largest stock market debuts on record.
Anthropic is also raising $26 billion (approximately ₹2.44 lakh crore) through a separate private placement supported by major technology investors.
The investors include Google’s parent company Alphabet, Nvidia, AMD and Microsoft.
TSMC’s proposed investment would allow the Taiwanese chipmaker to acquire shares in Anthropic at the IPO price.
Its separate investment in OpenAI would involve preferred stock rather than shares purchased through a public offering.
The two investments would give TSMC direct financial interests in companies developing some of the industry’s most widely used AI systems.
Record Profits and Expanding Production Support TSMC’s AI Strategy
TSMC’s investment decision follows strong financial performance driven by demand for advanced semiconductors.
In October, the company reported its sixth consecutive quarter of record profit and described demand for AI-related chips as extremely robust.
TSMC expects its revenue to grow by approximately 44% during 2026, reflecting continued demand from customers developing AI systems and computing infrastructure.
The company has also acknowledged that demand is exceeding its current production capacity.
To expand manufacturing operations, TSMC is pursuing a $265 billion (approximately ₹24.91 lakh crore) investment in facilities in Arizona, while evaluating potential additional projects in Texas.
Despite the strong demand, the company has maintained a cautious outlook for 2027.
The investments in OpenAI and Anthropic would broaden TSMC’s financial involvement in an industry already responsible for a substantial portion of its semiconductor demand.
The proposed transactions also reflect the close relationship between AI model developers, chip designers and manufacturers as technology companies continue expanding the computing infrastructure required to support artificial intelligence.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
