According to Cointelegraph: Artificial Intelligence pioneer OpenAI is reportedly engaged in discussions with potential investors to inject a funding round that could surpass $100 billion, according to an anonymous source cited by Bloomberg. If realized, this massive investment could make OpenAI the second most valuable startup in America, with only aerospace company SpaceX ranking higher.
However, the exact details of the investment round, including the terms, valuation, and timing, are still yet to be determined. Nevertheless, the booming interest in AI seems to be sparking a surge in funding across the sector.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has not made public comments about this funding round on his social media channels. However, he has mentioned that 2023 is a pivotal year where AI is finally starting to be taken seriously. Altman's comment aligns with OpenAI's consistent efforts in investing and fostering the AI industry, with several initiatives underway.
For example, OpenAI has recently launched its second application cohort for Converge 2, a six-week program dedicated to AI startups, with a total funding pool of $15 million. This follows on from its successful inaugural program in November 2022, which granted $1 million each to 12 startups to fuel their AI developments.
News of OpenAI's possible funding round comes amid broader growth in the AI sector, such as French AI startup Mistral AI's recent round of funding worth approximately $415 million. These ventures suggest an escalating interest and investment in AI technologies.
The potential funding round signifies a promising future for OpenAI and carries broader implications for the AI industry, indicating that the market is more ready than ever to invest in AI technologies.