Artificial intelligence giant OpenAI is reportedly in talks with investors to raise $6.5 billion at a pre-funding valuation of $150 billion, according to Bloomberg.
The new valuation is significantly higher than the $86 billion valuation reported for OpenAI earlier this year, and much higher than any other AI startup today.
This funding round is set to be led by venture capital firm Thrive Capital, a major investor in OpenAI in previous rounds.
Other reported investors include Microsoft, Apple and Nvidia, OpenAI partners who are all invested in the AI startup’s success in one way or another.
On the other hand, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI is in talks to raise $5 billion in debt from some banks.
Last August, the Wall Street Journal reported that Thrive Capital was leading a massive funding round for OpenAI, and was planning to contribute about $1 billion. However, the Journal reported that the latter’s valuation for the round was about $100 billion.
At a valuation of $150 billion today, the company would be worth roughly twice Intel, and that would be a victory for Thrive Capital, which led OpenAI’s last major fundraising round at a valuation of $80 billion.
With this size, questions about the company’s IPO plans will increase and pressure will increase on it to restructure into a fully profitable enterprise.
