ChatGPT creator OpenAI urgently needs new funding to be able to develop new models and operate its power-consuming offerings. So the company is currently conducting a large new round of investors. As the Wall Street Journal reports, this time there will be not only old donors, but also new ones – This includes Apple for the first time. The goal is for OpenAI to be valued at over $100 billion for the first time.
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Money from old and new investors
Old investors like Microsoft and Thrive Capital (owned by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner) are also said to be back in the new round. Overall, it is expected that OpenAI will raise several billion dollars in one go. To date, Microsoft has been the ChatGPT operator’s largest strategic partner. The software giant also has a 49 percent share of the profits OpenAI’s profit share The group has raised a total of $13 billion since 2019.
Talks with Apple are currently ongoing, according to the Wall Street Journal. GPU specialist Nvidia, which has benefited massively from the AI ​​boom, is also said to be one of the potential new investors. This would allow OpenAI to be supplied more quickly and widely with its new AI accelerator chips. It was not initially known how much money was involved – and it was also not clear how far the discussions had progressed.
The problem with neutrality that Apple wants
Recently, there were reports that Apple might get an observer position on the OpenAI board of directors. The company announced that it would integrate ChatGPT directly into iOS, iPadOS and macOS in the future if users wish. However, this idea was withdrawn to avoid antitrust problems.
It is not yet clear whether the iPhone maker will actually invest in OpenAI. Apple has so far positioned itself as a neutral partner and is also looking to integrate Google Gemini or Anthropic Cloud into its systems. If the company were to invest money in OpenAI, it could be viewed negatively.
(B.Sc.)
