OpenAI is close to finalizing a $40 billion funding round led by Japanese tech investment giant SoftBank, according to Bloomberg—a deal that would rank among the largest private capital raises in history.

OpenAI's value spikes: The deal is expected to push OpenAI's valuation from its last round of $157 billion in October 2024 to around $300 billion. That would place OpenAI among the world's most valuable private companies, rivaling major public tech giants in terms of market capitalization.

The rise of OpenAI: The enormous size of the transaction reflects soaring demand for OpenAI's suite of AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise and its API platform, amid rising adoption across enterprise, consumer, and developer segments. It also highlights how generative AI has evolved from a speculative sector into a capital-intensive, commercially validated force in global technology.

Money talks: OpenAI's potential $300 billion valuation doesn't just signal investor excitement—it represents a fundamental shift in where the world's largest pools of capital are flowing. AI companies like OpenAI, once on the fringes, are now commanding investment volumes previously reserved for late-stage Big Tech IPOs.

A piece of the action: Structured as a tender offer rather than issuing new equity, the transaction, as reported by Bloomberg, enables early investors and employees to sell shares—highlighting both strong demand for a slice of OpenAI and the red-hot appeal of generative AI technologies.