SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — OpenAI may be closing in on a milestone few startups ever reach. The company behind ChatGPT is exploring a massive new funding round that could value it at nearly $1 trillion, according to people familiar with the talks. If successful, the deal would place OpenAI among the most valuable private companies in history and signal how fast artificial intelligence has reshaped global markets.
OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has recently met with top investors in the Middle East. The meetings included discussions with state-backed funds in Abu Dhabi, the people said. The goal is to raise at least $50 billion in fresh capital. The talks remain early, and the final amount could still change.
Sources said the funding round could value OpenAI between $750 billion and $830 billion. That range would move the startup much closer to a $1 trillion valuation. OpenAI declined to comment on the discussions. The Information first reported that OpenAI had explored raising tens of billions of dollars at a $750 billion valuation. Bloomberg News later reported that OpenAI also held talks with Amazon about raising at least $10 billion more.
OpenAI has raised billions of dollars over the past few years. The company faces enormous costs as it builds more powerful artificial intelligence systems. These costs include advanced computer chips, large data centers, and highly paid technical talent. The startup is not yet profitable. Still, it has committed to spending more than $1.4 trillion on AI infrastructure in the coming years. That figure highlights the scale of investment needed to stay competitive in the fast-moving AI race.
ChatGPT has become one of the most widely used AI products in the world. Millions of people rely on it for writing, research, coding, and everyday tasks. Businesses also use OpenAI models to power customer service tools, software development, and data analysis.
Deep-pocketed investors in the Middle East have become key players in the global AI boom. Several top AI developers now rely on capital from the region to fund expansion.
Anthropic and Elon Musk’s xAI have both sought funding from Middle Eastern investors. OpenAI has already raised money from MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based technology investment firm. The company has also partnered with G42 to develop a large data center in the United Arab Emirates. These partnerships offer more than money. They also provide access to energy resources, land, and infrastructure needed to run large AI systems at scale.
OpenAI still leads public awareness of AI. For many people, ChatGPT remains the face of artificial intelligence. Yet competition has intensified. Alphabet’s Google continues to invest heavily in its own AI models and products. Anthropic, a major OpenAI rival, is also growing fast. Bloomberg News reported that Anthropic is in talks to raise new funding at a $350 billion valuation.
These rivals push OpenAI to move faster. They also increase pressure to secure long-term funding to support research and global expansion.
OpenAI’s valuation has risen at a stunning pace. In the fall of 2025, the company reached a $500 billion valuation. That deal allowed some employees to sell shares, offering a rare chance to cash in on the company’s growth. A new round of up to $830 billion would mark another dramatic leap. It would reflect investor confidence in AI’s long-term potential and OpenAI’s central role in that future.
