AI: OpenAI Hunts for $30 Billion as Valuation Targets $1.4 Trillion

OpenAI is already preparing a new massive financial operation. The company is reportedly looking to raise at least $30 billion from investors, with a target valuation close to $1.4 trillion. This amount mainly shows how costly the AI race has become. Between data centers, chips, and computing power, financial needs continue to explode.

AI Drives OpenAI Toward $1.4 Trillion

OpenAI apparently has not finished raising money. The company is reportedly in talks to obtain at least an additional $30 billion from investors. The anticipated valuation reaches about $1.4 trillion even before integrating new capital.

Six months earlier, OpenAI had already reached a valuation of $852 billion after a massive fundraising round. The scale shifts again. However, the new operation is not yet finalized. Discussions may still evolve, especially regarding the amount actually raised and the list of investors.

OpenAI’s needs give an idea of the current cost of cutting-edge AI. Developing more powerful models is no longer limited to financing research teams. It means buying or renting tens of thousands of GPUs, building data centers, and securing enough electricity to power them.

OpenAI is now among the companies at the center of this global infrastructure race. An additional $30 billion would thus not be really excessive.

OpenAI Earns a Lot but Spends Even More

The group can nevertheless show growth that is hard to ignore. OpenAI’s recurring annualized revenues would now approach $70 billion. Sales to businesses have doubled since July while overall revenue has grown by more than 70% since the start of the third quarter.

AI thus begins to generate revenues comparable to those of some major tech companies. The problem remains the cost of this growth.

OpenAI is multiplying compute contracts and investments in infrastructure. SoftBank is among the groups most exposed to this strategy. The Japanese conglomerate would have already invested more than $60 billion in OpenAI since 2024.

Amazon has also moved closer to the company. Cointribune recently reported that the group is considering up to $50 billion in investment in OpenAI.

The amounts are becoming enormous. They also correspond to a market where AI infrastructures now absorb hundreds of billions of dollars. Oxford Economics estimates that investments related to artificial intelligence could reach $3.8 trillion between 2024 and 2028.

The AI Battle Becomes Also a Capital Battle

OpenAI no longer only finances ChatGPT. The company develops increasingly large models, programming tools, autonomous agents, and infrastructure capable of serving hundreds of millions of users.

Competition is following the same path. Anthropic also plans several hundreds of billions of dollars in cloud and compute spending over the coming years. Major providers like Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, and Google are simultaneously investing in their own capacities.

OpenAI already benefits from an impressive network of investors. Microsoft notably holds 27% of the group after injecting more than $13 billion since the start of their partnership. A $1.4 trillion valuation would now place OpenAI in a whole different category. It would remain a private company but with a value comparable to several listed technology giants. Revenues are growing fast. So are the expenses.