Nvidia and Apple Eye Investment in OpenAI’s Next Funding Round

Nvidia and Apple are rumored to be interested in joining OpenAI's next funding round, which could potentially raise the company's valuation to over $100 billion.

According to recent reports from Bloomberg and WSJ, these tech giants are exploring investment opportunities with OpenAI. This move would be atypical for Apple, known for generally avoiding direct startup investments, but it reflects the company’s aim to boost its position in the competitive AI landscape.

Leading the funding efforts is Thrive Capital, committing $1 billion to the round. Microsoft, which already holds a significant stake of 49% in OpenAI from previous investments totaling $13 billion, will also be involved. The specific investment amounts from Apple and Nvidia have not yet been detailed.

OpenAI recently highlighted a major increase in its ChatGPT user base, which has doubled to over 200 million weekly users within the past year. However, the company’s annual revenue of approximately $3.4 billion has not met some of the more ambitious forecasts.

If Apple proceeds with this investment, it would mark a notable shift in its approach to AI partnerships. The company has been working on integrating AI features into its operating systems and is exploring potential collaborations with other major tech players, including Google and Meta.

Apple typically favors strategic investments rather than direct startup funding. Past moves include a $1 billion investment in SoftBank’s Vision Fund and another $1 billion in the Chinese ride-hailing firm DiDi Chuxing, aimed at securing critical technologies for its devices.