OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has secured $6.6 billion in its latest funding round, with backing from key investors, including early supporter Microsoft, reflecting the growing confidence in artificial intelligence (AI). This deal values the tech firm at $157 billion (£118 billion), placing it on par with major institutions like Goldman Sachs and surpassing many of America’s largest companies, solidifying its position as one of the world’s most valuable start-ups. Reports Technology News
OpenAI stated that the funds would help it remain at the forefront of AI research. The company has been under the spotlight recently, not only for its technological advancements but also due to internal leadership changes and debates surrounding its future direction.
CEO Sam Altman is reportedly restructuring OpenAI into a for-profit entity, moving away from its non-profit roots, a shift that has drawn both investor interest and internal criticism. Some staff members and external critics have voiced concerns, including Elon Musk, a co-founder who left the company in 2018. Musk has argued that OpenAI has strayed from its original mission of developing AI for the betterment of humanity.
OpenAI is credited with driving AI into mainstream use, fueling a surge in investment and attention across the tech industry.
“The new funding will allow us to double down on our leadership in frontier AI research, increase compute capacity, and continue building tools that help people solve hard problems,” OpenAI said.
Investors in the latest funding round included Thrive Capital, the Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, American chip giant Nvidia, and Microsoft, which already holds a significant stake in OpenAI.
