SoftBank's Vision Fund plans to invest $500 million in OpenAI as part of a larger funding round. Previously, it was reported that OpenAI aims to raise $6.5 billion at a $150 billion valuation, with Thrive Capital leading the round and participation from its major investor, Microsoft, among others.
This funding will solidify OpenAI's position as one of the highest-valued startups globally. However, the company is currently facing uncertainties, such as the recent departure announcement of its Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati and the exits of several other executives this year. Bloomberg reported that OpenAI is also considering restructuring into a for-profit entity.
While SoftBank hasn't previously invested in OpenAI, it is an investor in one of its competitors. In June, SoftBank's Vision Fund invested in Perplexity AI, an AI search startup valued at $3 billion.
