OpenAI in Talks to Secure Up to $40 Billion in New SoftBank-Led Funding Round
OpenAI is currently in discussions to raise up to $40 billion in a new funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp., according to sources familiar with the matter.
The artificial intelligence powerhouse, known for developing ChatGPT, is negotiating a potential valuation of up to $340 billion, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. However, sources indicate that the pre-money valuation may be closer to $200 billion—a significant jump from OpenAI’s $157 billion valuation in October 2023.
Neither OpenAI nor SoftBank has issued official statements regarding the talks, and terms of the deal could still change.
OpenAI and other leading AI companies are investing billions in data, talent, and infrastructure to advance AI development. However, concerns about escalating costs have been raised after Chinese AI startup DeepSeek launched a competitive AI model at a fraction of OpenAI’s expenses.
Bloomberg previously reported that SoftBank may contribute between $15 billion and $25 billion, potentially making it OpenAI’s largest investor.
Additionally, last week, OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle announced a $100 billion joint venture to finance data center expansion and infrastructure projects across the United States. This initiative aims to accelerate OpenAI’s next-generation AI model development.