OpenAI weighs funding round at $1.2tn valuation before IPO

OpenAI is reportedly exploring a potential funding round that would elevate its valuation to approximately $1.2 trillion prior to its initial public offering, according to a report from the Financial Times on Tuesday. The discussions with potential investors are still in their preliminary stages, and the valuation figure may undergo adjustments in the months ahead, as indicated by the source.

Investors seem to have initiated these talks, rather than OpenAI itself. Earlier this year, the company completed a funding round that saw $122 billion in committed capital and a valuation of $852 billion. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, recently expressed the company's intention to avoid a public listing in 2026, citing safety concerns surrounding artificial intelligence.

Both OpenAI and its rival, Anthropic, are advocating for stricter regulation of AI technology to ensure its development promotes safety. Concerns about security and potential misuse have driven this push for greater oversight. Additionally, Anthropic is set to commence marketing its own initial public offering in mid-October, with the aim of completing the listing days before the U.S. midterm elections in November, as reported by Reuters earlier this month.