AssetID: 54640486
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: OpenAI to Raise $40 Billion in SoftBank-Led Round, Doubling Valuation to $300B
Caption: OpenAI to Raise $40 Billion in SoftBank-Led Round, Doubling Valuation to $300B. OpenAI announced plans to raise up to $40 billion in a new funding round led by SoftBank, aiming to boost AI development and expand its computing infrastructure. The round values OpenAI at $300 billion, nearly doubling its previous valuation of $157 billion from a funding round in October 2024. SoftBank will contribute $10 billion in April and another $30 billion in December, contingent on OpenAI transitioning to a for-profit structure by year’s end. If that restructuring fails, SoftBank's total investment will be reduced to $20 billion. Co-investors include Microsoft, Coatue Management, Altimeter Capital, and Thrive Capital, though SoftBank plans to syndicate $10 billion of its stake. The funding will support OpenAI's goal of building more powerful tools for the 500 million weekly ChatGPT users, and expanding access to enterprise AI solutions. OpenAI is also working with Oracle and SoftBank on the $500 billion Stargate project, a network of U.S. data centers for high-performance AI workloads. As part of its shift, OpenAI plans to restructure into a public benefit corporation, balancing investor interests with broader public impact. The AI sector continues to draw massive interest, but analysts say OpenAI’s capital needs are so vast that only a few backers like SoftBank may be able to fund them. With this raise, OpenAI joins the world’s most valuable private companies, alongside SpaceX, ByteDance, and Stripe. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Science & Technology,OpenAI funding round,SoftBank investment,$300 billion valuation,ChatGPT user base,Stargate project,data center network,public benefit corporation,Microsoft investment,Coatue Management,Thrive Capital,Gil Luria,Mizuho Bank,Morrison Foerster,AI funding,OpenAI expansion,venture capital,SoftBank tech investments,artificial intelligence tools,startup valuation,enterprise AI,AI infrastructure,AI startup funding,ChatGPT growth,tech investment news,private company valuation,AI innovation,high-performance computing,global tech finance
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