OpenAI is also weighing a potential agreement wherein Amazon would utilize the AI models developed by the startup, which power the widely used ChatGPT chatbot, within its offerings and platforms. Amazon’s personnel would gain access to these models for their tasks.
Should the negotiations prove fruitful, Amazon might contribute as much as 50% of the fresh funding round, which could amount to $100 billion. Additional parties engaged in discussions regarding investment in the round encompass Nvidia Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp. The round remains open, and details are subject to change.
These discussions highlight OpenAI’s significance as a substantial consumer of cloud solutions and the magnitude of expenditure on developing AI technologies, compelling CEO Sam Altman to pursue investment from leading Silicon Valley organizations, technological competitors, and global sovereign wealth entities.
An investment of this scale by Amazon would reinforce the bond between OpenAI and the e-commerce titan, which had previously supported OpenAI’s rival, Anthropic, and would also represent an instance of a cyclical arrangement linking a foremost AI startup with a chip and cloud computing supplier.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported the $50 billion figure and indicated that discussions are ongoing between Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and Sam Altman. OpenAI intends to procure up to $100 billion in new capital and is preparing for an initial public offering during the fourth quarter of 2026, while internally, the company harbors concerns that Anthropic might proceed with a public offering sooner.
Bloomberg previously documented that OpenAI is in talks with Amazon regarding securing funding and leveraging the company’s chip technology, while also planning to raise as much as $30 billion from current investor SoftBank.
Altman is additionally engaging with prominent investors located in the Middle East for a funding round that could assess the valuation of ChatGPT’s originator at $830 billion.
Source: Bloomberg