OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research company behind ChatGPT, has closed a historic $122 billion funding round, marking one of the largest private capital raises in technology history. The funding increases OpenAI’s valuation to approximately $852 billion, making it one of the most valuable private tech firms in the world. Major investors include Amazon, Nvidia, SoftBank, and Microsoft, as well as contributions from individual investors via retail investment channels.
The capital will be used to expand AI infrastructure, including data centres, computing resources, and next-generation model development. OpenAI aims to integrate its services, including ChatGPT, enterprise AI solutions, coding tools, and autonomous AI assistants, into a unified AI platform.
Despite growing revenue, the company is not yet profitable. OpenAI reports roughly $2 billion in monthly revenue, with over 900 million weekly active users and tens of millions of paid subscriptions. High operational and infrastructure costs continue to challenge the company’s path to consistent profitability.
Investors are closely watching OpenAI’s potential initial public offering (IPO), expected in late 2026 or early 2027. The funding round, including participation via ETFs, positions the company to enter public markets, though analysts note that demonstrating sustainable revenue and operational efficiency will be critical. Competition from other AI firms pursuing IPOs adds pressure to solidify market strategy.
Industry observers say the funding round underscores a broader AI infrastructure race, with companies investing heavily in data centres, specialised chips, and advanced AI models. The move also reflects investor emphasis on firms that can combine rapid growth with commercial viability, signalling intensified competition among AI leaders as they prepare for public offerings.
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