OpenAI has secured $11 billion in fresh funding at a valuation of $1.25 trillion, marking another major capital injection for the company behind ChatGPT as it expands its artificial intelligence infrastructure and competes for global market leadership.
The funding represents the first portion of a larger investment round that could reach $20 billion in the coming weeks. The initial $11 billion had been transferred to the company by November 6, with the remaining investment expected to follow.
The deal attracted major institutional investors, including Japan's SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi-backed investment firm MGX. Bloomberg also reported participation from Coatue Management, T. Rowe Price, Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz.
The latest valuation places OpenAI among the world's most valuable privately held technology companies. However, the fundraising has been scaled back from earlier ambitions, reflecting a more cautious investment environment for artificial intelligence businesses.
OpenAI had initially sought to raise as much as $30 billion, with earlier reports placing its desired valuation between $1.4 trillion and $1.5 trillion. The company subsequently reduced its fundraising target to approximately $20 billion as technology stocks came under pressure and investors questioned the enormous spending required to build and operate AI infrastructure.
The $1.25 trillion valuation is also significantly higher than the $852 billion valuation attached to its previous major funding round in March 2026, when OpenAI raised approximately $122 billion.
The new capital comes as the company faces growing infrastructure demands. Developing advanced AI models requires enormous computing capacity, specialised chips, data centres and reliable energy supplies. OpenAI is therefore competing not only to attract users and enterprise customers but also to secure the infrastructure needed to support its expanding services.
The fundraising also comes as rival Anthropic prepares for a potential stock market listing, creating competition for institutional investors seeking exposure to the artificial intelligence sector.
Despite the scale of the latest investment, the funding round is not yet complete. The final amount could reach $20 billion, but the additional capital had not been secured at the time of the initial announcement.
OpenAI declined to comment on the funding, according to Bloomberg. The reported figures were based on people familiar with the transaction rather than a formal company announcement.
The latest deal highlights the enormous financial resources flowing into artificial intelligence, even as investors become more selective about valuations, infrastructure spending and the eventual returns from the technology.
