OpenAI has announced a collaboration with Hon Hai Technology Group, better known as Foxconn, to co-design and manufacture hardware for artificial intelligence data centres in the United States.

According to OpenAI’s statement, the partnership focuses on design work and US manufacturing readiness for “the next generation of AI infrastructure hardware.” OpenAI said it will share insight into emerging hardware needs to inform Foxconn’s development efforts and will have early access to evaluate the systems with an option to purchase them. The initial agreement carries no purchase commitments or financial obligations.

The companies plan to co-develop multiple generations of AI server racks in parallel, and to manufacture critical components at Foxconn’s US facilities. The scope includes cabling, networking, cooling and power systems, with the stated aim of strengthening domestic supply chains, broadening chipset sourcing to include more US suppliers, and expanding local testing and assembly.

“Foxconn is uniquely positioned to support OpenAI’s mission with trusted, scalable infrastructure,” said Foxconn chairman Young Liu. He added that the manufacturer, known globally for its contract electronics work and iPhone assembly, is “thrilled to partner with OpenAI – a pioneer at the forefront of the AI digital age.”

OpenAI’s chief executive officer Sam Altman framed the effort as part of a broader push to build AI infrastructure domestically. “The infrastructure behind advanced AI is a generational opportunity to reindustrialise America,” said Altman. “This partnership is a step toward ensuring the core technologies of the AI era are built here. We believe this work will strengthen US leadership and help ensure the benefits of AI are widely shared.”

The collaboration sits alongside OpenAI’s wider infrastructure drive. Reporting from Bloomberg noted OpenAI’s work with Oracle and SoftBank on a potential $500 billion investment in US data centres and AI infrastructure over the coming years, and its multibillion-dollar agreements with cloud providers and chipmakers including Nvidia and AMD. OpenAI has also taken steps to gain more control over its supply chain, including an October agreement to buy custom chips and networking components from Broadcom.

Foxconn’s US footprint includes facilities in states such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Indiana, according to the company’s website. The manufacturer has expanded into AI and automotive production and builds server racks tailored to AI workloads, acting as a key supplier to Nvidia.

The companies said the goal is to accelerate deployment while securing long-term US capacity for advanced AI systems.

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