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Broadcom unveils Thor Ultra networking chip to challenge Nvidia in AI data centers

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Broadcom has launched its new Thor Ultra networking chip, designed to help companies build massive artificial intelligence computing systems by linking together hundreds of thousands of processors — escalating its rivalry with Nvidia in the race to dominate AI infrastructure.

Unveiled on Tuesday, the Thor Ultra chip enables data center operators to connect far more AI processors than before, making it easier to train and deploy large models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The launch follows Broadcom’s announcement on Monday of a major deal to deliver 10 gigawatts of custom chips for OpenAI starting in 2026, further challenging Nvidia’s dominance in AI accelerators and networking technologies.

“The network plays an extremely important role in building these large clusters,” said Ram Velaga, Broadcom’s senior vice president. “So I’m not surprised that anybody in the GPU business wants to participate in networking.”

AI has become a $60 billion to $90 billion market opportunity for Broadcom by 2027, according to CEO Hock Tan, split between networking chips and custom data center processors built for companies such as Google and OpenAI. In 2024, Broadcom reported $12.2 billion in AI revenue, and in September it disclosed a $10 billion unnamed customer for its AI chips.

The Thor Ultra doubles the bandwidth of its predecessor and acts as a vital link between AI systems and the rest of the data center, improving data transfer speeds and scalability. Engineers developed it alongside Broadcom’s Tomahawk networking switches, refining every detail from power consumption to thermal management.

While Broadcom does not sell servers directly, it provides reference designs for partners to build upon. “For every dollar we invest in our silicon, our ecosystem partners invest six to ten times more,” Velaga said, emphasizing the company’s design-first strategy in the AI infrastructure market.

OpenAI to permit mature content on ChatGPT for verified adults from December

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OpenAI will begin allowing mature content on ChatGPT starting in December for users who verify their age, CEO Sam Altman announced on Tuesday. The decision marks a major policy shift under OpenAI’s new “treat adult users like adults” principle, following earlier restrictions that limited the chatbot’s ability to handle sensitive topics.

Altman said on X (formerly Twitter) that the company made ChatGPT “pretty restrictive” to avoid harm to users experiencing mental distress, which he acknowledged had made the chatbot “less useful or enjoyable” for others. “As we roll out age-gating more fully … we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults,” he said.

The move comes as OpenAI develops new safety tools and moderation systems aimed at identifying mental health risks and ensuring appropriate usage. Altman added that the company now feels confident it can safely relax restrictions for most adult users while maintaining strong protections for minors.

In parallel, OpenAI plans to roll out a customization feature that lets users adjust ChatGPT’s tone and personality, including more expressive or conversational styles. “If you want ChatGPT to act more human-like or friendly, it should — but only if you want it,” Altman said.

The announcement came the same day Meta introduced new PG-13-style content filters on Instagram, underscoring the growing trend among tech firms to tailor content standards by user age and consent verification.

Walmart teams up with OpenAI to launch ChatGPT-powered shopping feature

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Walmart announced a new partnership with OpenAI on Tuesday, enabling customers and Sam’s Club members to shop directly through ChatGPT using the platform’s Instant Checkout feature. The move marks the retail giant’s latest step toward integrating artificial intelligence into its e-commerce operations.

Following the news, Walmart shares rose 5% to $107.21, reflecting investor optimism about the company’s expanding digital strategy. The collaboration allows users to browse and purchase Walmart products directly within ChatGPT, using conversational prompts to find items and complete transactions seamlessly.

The world’s largest retailer has been steadily expanding its AI efforts, rolling out Sparky, a generative AI assistant within its mobile app that helps users discover products, summarize reviews, and find personalized suggestions.

The tie-up with OpenAI aligns Walmart more closely with rivals like Amazon, which earlier launched its own AI shopping assistant Rufus, designed to streamline online searches and product recommendations.

The partnership follows OpenAI’s recent collaborations with Etsy and Shopify, as ChatGPT becomes increasingly integrated into online retail ecosystems. According to SimilarWeb, ChatGPT referrals accounted for 15% of Walmart’s referral traffic in September, up from 9.5% in August, although they still make up less than 1% of overall web traffic.

Walmart said the initiative reflects its broader commitment to using generative AI to improve customer experience and simplify the shopping journey both online and in stores.