{
  "id": 7688546,
  "title": "OpenAI weighs fresh funding at US$1.2 trillion-plus valuation ahead of IPO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/openai-weighs-fresh-funding-at-us-1-2-trillion-plus-valuation-ahead",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T02:24:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/business/127338/openai-weighs-fresh-funding-at-us1.2-trillion-plus-valuation-ahead-of-ipo"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI is engaged in preliminary discussions with potential investors regarding a possible funding round that could potentially value the company at over US$1.2 trillion, according to sources familiar with the matter. The talks aim to determine the timing of OpenAI's planned initial public offering (IPO), with CEO Sam Altman stating that the IPO is still in progress and will not occur in 2026. Should the company decide to seek additional funding, it could provide OpenAI with more flexibility to delay its IPO by one or two quarters. The additional capital could also be used to support further acquisitions, such as the recent expansions of startups like io and Astral. OpenAI currently holds a valuation of more than US$1.2 trillion, surpassing rival Anthropic, which recently raised funds at a valuation of US$965 billion. The company is also contemplating legal restrictions on the type of information it can share with private-market investors ahead of its IPO. Anthropic, another AI company, is preparing for its own IPO, intending to list on Nasdaq and raise significant funds, potentially even surpassing SpaceX's record US$86.3 billion IPO in June.",
  "summary": "OpenAI is holding early talks with investors over a fresh funding round that could value the ChatGPT maker at more than US$1.2 trillion (about RM4.85 trillion), as it weighs the timing of a planned initial public offering. Any decision to proceed wit...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7688546.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "OpenAI weighs funding round at $1.2tn valuation before IPO",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/openai-weighs-funding-round-at-1-2tn-valuation-before-ipo",
        "published": "2026-09-15T21:54:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "OpenAI mulls funding round at $1.2 trillion valuation ahead of IPO, FT reports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/openai-mulls-funding-round-at-1-2-trillion-valuation-ahead-of-ipo-ft",
        "published": "2026-09-15T22:40:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "OpenAI mulls funding round at $1.2 trillion valuation ahead of IPO, FT reports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/openai-mulls-funding-round-at-1-2-trillion-valuation-ahead-of-ipo-ft-7650083",
        "published": "2026-09-15T22:42:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
        "title": "OpenAI mulls funding round at US$1.2 trillion valuation ahead of IPO, FT reports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/openai-mulls-funding-round-at-us-1-2-trillion-valuation-ahead-of-ipo",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:56:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tech in Asia",
        "title": "OpenAI in early funding talks at $1.2t valuation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/openai-in-early-funding-talks-at-1-2t-valuation",
        "published": "2026-09-16T00:11:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "OpenAI targets mind-boggling $1.2 trillion valuation in shock new funding talks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/openai-targets-mind-boggling-1-2-trillion-valuation-in-shock-new",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:12:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "OpenAI mulls funding round at $1.2 trillion valuation ahead of IPO",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/openai-mulls-funding-round-at-1-2-trillion-valuation-ahead-of-ipo",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:45:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}