SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate led by Masayoshi Son, is set to invest $500 million in OpenAI, the parent company of the AI model ChatGPT, as part of a larger funding round totaling $6.5 billion. This investment would value OpenAI at $150 billion.
The funding round, expected to conclude soon, is led by Thrive Capital with participation from Microsoft, OpenAI's largest investor. This comes as OpenAI plans to transition from a non-profit organization to a for-profit entity, making it more appealing to investors.
Recently, OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, and other senior executives announced their departures, adding uncertainty to the company. SoftBank has previously invested in rival AI startups but has not yet invested in OpenAI until now.
This funding round will solidify OpenAI's position as one of the world's most valuable startups, but it also reflects the challenges the company faces amid leadership changes and strategic shifts.