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Artificial intelligence
TechTech Trends

OpenAI in talks to raise new funding at US$100-billion valuation, making the ChatGPT creator one of the world’s most valuable start-ups

  • A fresh funding round would make OpenAI the second-most valuable start-up in the United States, behind Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp
  • The company is set to complete a separate tender offer in January, which would allow employees to sell their shares at a valuation of US$86 billion

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OpenAI’s rocketing valuation mirrors the artificial intelligence frenzy it kicked off one year ago after releasing ChatGPT. Photo: AP
Bloomberg
Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI is in early discussions to raise a fresh round of funding at a valuation at or above US$100 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said, a deal that would cement the creator of ChatGPT as one of the world’s most valuable start-ups.

Investors potentially involved in the fundraising round have been included in preliminary discussions, according to the people, who asked not to be identified to discuss private matters. Details like the terms, valuation and timing of the funding round have not yet been finalised and could still change, the people said.

If the funding round happens as planned, it would make the artificial intelligence (AI) darling the second-most valuable start-up in the United States, behind only Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp, according to data from CB Insights.

OpenAI declined to comment.

05:03

How does China’s AI stack up against ChatGPT?

How does China’s AI stack up against ChatGPT?

The San Francisco, California-based company is set to complete a separate tender offer in early January, which would allow employees to sell their shares at a valuation of US$86 billion, Bloomberg previously reported. That is being led by Thrive Capital and saw more demand from investors than there was availability, people familiar with the matter have said.

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