OpenAI is actively pursuing a funding round that could reach up to $100 billion as it navigates increasing operational costs and intensifying competition from other tech firms. Sources familiar with the situation indicate that this influx of capital could elevate the company”s valuation to around $830 billion, surpassing the annual economic output of Argentina.
As negotiations are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, the urgency of this funding effort is underscored by leaked internal documents revealing a projected shortfall of $14 billion by 2026, potentially escalating to a staggering $115 billion by 2029. According to company forecasts, profitability may not be achieved until sometime in the 2030s.
The funding initiative is structured in two distinct phases, with Microsoft and Nvidia prepared to contribute initially. Additionally, Amazon is reportedly considering a substantial investment, potentially amounting to $50 billion. This strategic timing aligns with OpenAI”s ambitious Stargate project, a $500 billion computing initiative in collaboration with SoftBank and Oracle, which aims to harness 10 gigawatts of electricity and deploy millions of processors to advance artificial general intelligence.
Despite financial pressures, user engagement remains robust. CEO Sam Altman reassured employees that ChatGPT has returned to exceeding a 10% monthly growth rate, with approximately 800 million users accessing the service weekly. However, competition is fierce, with rivals such as Google Gemini and Anthropic“s Claude gaining traction in the market.
In a bid to maintain its competitive edge, OpenAI recently launched GPT-5.3-Codex, which it describes as the first “agentic” coding tool capable of independently handling complex programming tasks, including bug fixes across extensive codebases without human intervention. This version has been instrumental for OpenAI engineers during development phases, enhancing their ability to troubleshoot and evaluate testing outcomes. The model also became the first to receive a “High capability” label under the company”s Preparedness Framework for cybersecurity, prompting the introduction of additional safeguards against automated cyber threats.
Public tensions between OpenAI and Anthropic surfaced during Super Bowl LX, where both companies aired competing advertisements. OpenAI launched a promotional spot targeting developers, while Anthropic”s campaign criticized OpenAI”s plans to introduce advertisements. Altman responded on social media, labeling Anthropic”s claims as “deceptive” and “dishonest.” Nonetheless, OpenAI proceeded with ad testing within ChatGPT, aiming to monetize its substantial user base through sponsored content while ensuring that only users on free or lower-tier plans are exposed to advertisements.
As discussions for funding progress, OpenAI faces mounting pressure to demonstrate its ability to monetize its extensive user base through these new advertising strategies and business tools, all while justifying the substantial expenditures necessary to compete in the evolving landscape of artificial general intelligence.
