SoftBank has finalized a significant $41 billion investment in OpenAI, acquiring an 11% ownership stake in the company behind ChatGPT. This deal, one of the largest tech private capital raises, involves a multi-stage funding process that kicked off earlier this year. The final payment of $22.5 billion enhances OpenAI’s financial position, positioning it for potential IPO considerations. Currently, Microsoft holds a 27% stake in OpenAI, while the newly established OpenAI Foundation maintains a 26% equity stake and governance control. Valuations for OpenAI have soared from approximately $300 billion to around $500 billion in recent months. Proceeds from this investment are expected to bolster OpenAI’s infrastructural ambitions, particularly its Stargate data center initiative, which aims to deliver a multi-gigawatt computing capacity in the U.S. This strategic funding comes as OpenAI collaborates with semiconductor giants like Nvidia and Broadcom, signifying aggressive growth in the AI sector.
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