OpenAI Weighs $1.2 Trillion Pre-IPO Funding

OpenAI is in preliminary, investor-initiated discussions about a private funding round that could value the ChatGPT maker at roughly $1.2 trillion, about 41% above its March valuation of $852 billion. No deal size, lead investor, or closing date has been reported, and the valuation could change as talks develop. The potential raise is being considered ahead of an initial public offering, but its timing depends on when OpenAI decides to proceed with a listing; CEO Sam Altman has indicated that the company will not go public this year, citing ongoing AI-safety work. The discussions underscore continued investor enthusiasm for artificial-intelligence companies despite debate over the industry’s rapid expansion and OpenAI’s substantial spending and losses.