OpenAI Seeks $40 Billion in New Funding Round

SoftBank Looks to Strengthen Its Position as Major Investor

OpenAI, the groundbreaking organization behind ChatGPT, is actively pursuing $40 billion in a new funding round that could elevate its valuation to an impressive $340 billion, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Leading this round of investment is Japan’s SoftBank, which is currently in discussions to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion. If successful, this would establish SoftBank as OpenAI’s foremost financial backer.

Market Reactions to New Competition

This news follows a tumultuous week in the tech world, during which Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled a potent new chatbot that was developed at a significantly lower cost than its American counterparts, causing widespread concern across markets.

SoftBank’s involvement in the investment round was first highlighted by the Financial Times, marking a critical moment in the ongoing competition within the artificial intelligence sector.

Rapid Growth and Rising Valuations

Just three months have passed since OpenAI completed its last funding round, which valued the company at $157 billion. The prospect of doubling its valuation is unprecedented in Silicon Valley history.

This rapid increase underscores the colossal investments required to develop world-class AI models from the ground up, especially in terms of advanced computing resources and infrastructure.

Participants in the Stargate Initiative

SoftBank and OpenAI are also integral to the Stargate initiative, as announced by former US President Donald Trump, which aims to invest up to $500 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States.

The new funding is expected to assist OpenAI in meeting its ambitious commitment of approximately $18 billion to the Stargate project, as reported by the Journal.

SoftBank’s Prior Investments

In addition to the new potential investment, SoftBank has already pledged over $15 billion to the Stargate initiative, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

Should negotiations proceed positively, SoftBank might ultimately invest more than $40 billion into its partnership with OpenAI, a move that would significantly bolster their collaboration.

Market Impact and Investor Responses

Following the announcement, shares in SoftBank rose by three percent during Thursday’s trading session in Tokyo.

Founded by Japanese entrepreneur Masayoshi Son, SoftBank has made lucrative early investments in companies like Yahoo! and Alibaba during the 1990s. However, some more recent investments have not fared as well.

A Shift Towards Artificial Intelligence

Driven by securing substantial funding from investors in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere, Masayoshi Son has actively sought to pivot SoftBank’s focus towards artificial intelligence, supported by the company’s stake in chip designer Arm.

Criticism from Industry Figures

Despite the optimism surrounding this funding initiative, not all industry figures are convinced. Elon Musk has publicly criticized the Stargate program, claiming that the main investors “don’t actually have the money,” a sentiment he shared on social media.

Musk, an early investor in OpenAI, has had a long-standing feud with the company’s CEO, Sam Altman, who has described Musk’s comments as “wrong.”

Conclusion

The ongoing discussions around funding highlight the immense financial resources needed to further advance artificial intelligence technology. As OpenAI moves forward, the outcomes of these negotiations will be closely watched by investors and tech enthusiasts alike.