OpenAI is currently seeking to raise $30 billion in a new funding round. The company aims to achieve a valuation exceeding $1.4 trillion, which would mark a 64% increase from its previous valuation of $852 billion recorded in March. Potential participants in these discussions include SoftBank and the Abu Dhabi-based firm MGX.
The company reported an annualized revenue of $50 billion following the launch of its GPT-6 Astra model. OpenAI projects this figure will rise to $70 billion by the end of 2026. To drive adoption, the firm has implemented price reductions for its smaller AI models, aiming to attract a broader customer base and support the high costs of infrastructure and computing capacity.
The fundraising effort is timed to conclude before the expected mid-November IPO of rival Anthropic. Anthropic reported an annualized revenue of approximately $65 billion in July, with third-quarter revenue reaching $16.8 billion. The two companies currently utilize different accounting methods to report their financial performance, complicating direct comparisons for investors.
Market conditions remain challenging as AI infrastructure stocks face pressure and rising borrowing costs. Recent volatility has seen the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index lose $1.6 trillion in market value within two weeks. OpenAI intends to use the fresh capital to strengthen its balance sheet, potentially preparing for its own public offering in 2027.
