OpenAI is already preparing a new giant financial operation. The company is reportedly looking to raise at least $30 billion from investors, with a targeted valuation near $1.4 trillion. A sum which above all shows how costly the race for AI is becoming. Between data centers, chips and computing capacities, financial needs continue to explode.
In brief
- OpenAI is reportedly seeking at least $30 billion more.
- The company is reportedly targeting a valuation close to $1.4 trillion.
- Its annualized revenues would now approach $70 billion.
AI pushes OpenAI towards $1.4 trillion
OpenAI obviously hasn’t finished raising money. The company is reportedly in discussions to raise at least $30 billion more from investors. The planned valuation reaches around $1.4 trillion even before the integration of the new capital.
Six months earlier, OpenAI had already reached a valuation of $852 billion after a massive fundraising. The scale changes again. However, the new operation has not been finalized. Discussions may still evolve, particularly on the amount actually raised and the list of investors.
OpenAI’s needs provide an idea of the current cost of cutting-edge AI. Developing more powerful models is no longer limited to funding teams of researchers. You have to buy or lease tens of thousands of GPUs, build data centers, and secure enough electricity to run them.
OpenAI is now one of the companies at the center of this global infrastructure race. An additional 30 billion would therefore not really be too much.
OpenAI earns a lot, but spends even more
The group can, however, show growth that is difficult to ignore. OpenAI’s annualized recurring revenue is now estimated to be approaching $70 billion. Sales to businesses have doubled since July while overall turnover has increased by more than 70% since the start of the third quarter.
AI is therefore starting to produce revenues comparable to those of some large technology companies. The problem remains the cost of this growth.
OpenAI multiplies calculation contracts and investments in infrastructure. SoftBank is one of the groups most exposed to this strategy. The Japanese conglomerate has already invested more than $60 billion in OpenAI since 2024.
Amazon has also approached the company. Tremplin.io recently reported that the group was 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 linked to artificial intelligence could reach $3.8 trillion between 2024 and 2028.
The battle for AI also becomes a battle for capital
OpenAI no longer only funds ChatGPT. The company develops increasingly heavy-duty models, programming tools, autonomous agents and infrastructure capable of serving hundreds of millions of users.
The competition is following the same path. Anthropic also plans several hundred billion dollars in spending related to cloud and computing over the coming years. Large vendors like Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle and Google are simultaneously investing in their own capabilities.
OpenAI already benefits from an impressive network of investors. Microsoft notably holds 27% of the group after having injected more than 13 billion dollars since the start of their partnership. A valuation of 1.4 trillion would now put OpenAI in an even different category. It would remain a private company, but with a value comparable to that of several listed technology giants. Incomes are growing quickly. The expenses too.
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