OpenAI Eyes $100 Billion Valuation and Chip Project

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research lab behind the popular ChatGPT app, is in early talks to raise a fresh round of funding at a valuation of $100 billion or more, according to a report by Bloomberg News. The company is also reportedly working on a chip venture, codenamed Tigris, to power its future AI models.

OpenAI, which was founded in 2015 by a group of tech luminaries, including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, aims to create artificial intelligence that can benefit humanity without causing harm or being misused. It operates as a non-profit and a for-profit entity, with the latter being backed by Microsoft, which has committed to invest over $10 billion in OpenAI.

The company has already raised about $13 billion from Microsoft and other investors, and has seen its valuation soar from $30 billion in February 2021 to $86 billion in December 2021, according to Bloomberg News. The company is now in early discussions with potential investors to raise more money at a valuation of $100 billion or higher, although the terms, valuation, and timing of the funding round have not been finalized and could still change, the report said.

The company’s valuation is driven by the popularity and potential of its AI products, especially ChatGPT, a chatbot that can generate human-like responses based on user prompts. ChatGPT, which was released in November 2020, has sparked a craze for generative AI, and has been used for various applications, such as gaming, education, and entertainment. The company has also developed other AI products, such as Copilot, a code assistant that can suggest and complete code snippets, and Codex, a natural language interface that can execute commands and queries.

OpenAI is not only developing software, but also hardware, to power its AI ambitions. The company is reportedly working on a chip venture, codenamed Tigris, to develop semiconductors that can rival NVIDIA, the leading maker of AI chips. The company has held discussions to raise between $8 billion and $10 billion from G42, an AI development company based in Abu Dhabi, for the chip project, according to Bloomberg News.

The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, has been actively seeking capital for the chip venture, which aims to create custom chips that can run its AI models more efficiently and effectively. The company has also considered acquiring a semiconductor company to make its own chips, or making in-house AI chips, according to a report by Reuters.

The company’s chip venture is part of its broader vision to create artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is AI that can perform any intellectual task that a human can. The company believes that current AI chips are not sufficient to achieve AGI, and that it needs to create its own chips that can match its AI software.

OpenAI’s funding and chip venture reflect its ambition and innovation, but also pose challenges and opportunities for the company and the AI industry. The company faces technical, ethical, and legal challenges, such as ensuring the quality, reliability, and security of its AI products, avoiding the misuse or abuse of its AI products, and complying with the regulations and standards of the AI industry. The company also faces competition from other AI players, such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon, which are also developing their own AI products and chips.

However, the company also has opportunities to create value and impact for its users and the society, by providing novel and useful AI products and services, advancing the state-of-the-art of AI research and development, and contributing to the social good and welfare of humanity. The company also has opportunities to collaborate and partner with other AI players, such as Microsoft, G42, and OpenAI’s co-founder Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, which are also developing their own AI products and chips.

OpenAI is a leading and influential AI company that is eyeing a $100 billion valuation and a chip project, as it pursues its vision of creating artificial intelligence that can benefit humanity.

OpenAI is a AI research lab that is in talks to raise a fresh round of funding at a valuation of $100 billion or more, according to a report by Bloomberg News. The company is also working on a chip venture, codenamed Tigris, to develop semiconductors that can power its future AI models, such as ChatGPT, a chatbot that can generate human-like responses. The company faces technical, ethical, and legal challenges, but also has opportunities to create value and impact for its users and the society, by advancing the state-of-the-art of AI research and development.