SoftBank to invest $500m in OpenAI, U.S. media report

Apple reportedly dropped out of plans to participate in large funding round

20240930N SOFTBANK

The deal reportedly represents SoftBank's first investment in OpenAI. © Reuters

(Reuters) -- Japanese telecom company SoftBank's Vision Fund will invest $500 million in OpenAI's latest funding round, The Information reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the deal.

SoftBank declined to comment, while OpenAI did not immediately respond.

The company at the heart of the artificial intelligence boom is raising $6.5 billion in the form of convertible notes, Reuters exclusively reported in September.

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Apple reportedly dropped out of plans to participate in the large funding round, which currently values the artificial intelligence startup at $150 billion before the SoftBank investment.

However, the valuation will be contingent on whether the ChatGPT maker can upend its corporate structure and remove a profit cap for investors.

The deal represents SoftBank's first investment in the Sam Altman-led firm, the Information report said.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that OpenAI is working on a plan to restructure its core business into a for-profit corporation that will no longer be controlled by its nonprofit board.

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