OpenAI is in talks with investors to raise at least $30 billion in a pre-IPO funding round at a valuation of roughly $1.4 trillion, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. The ChatGPT maker aims to secure this capital ahead of its anticipated public market debut next year, following a reported 70% jump in run-rate revenue since July. This financial surge stems from a strategic refocus on key areas like coding, pushing August earnings to $40 billion. The company previously raised $122 billion in March at an $852 billion valuation, but CEO Sam Altman has now ruled out a public debut in 2026 to prioritise AI safety first. Altman recently told Fortune that taking a 10% chance of killing everybody by the end of the decade is unacceptable. The new fundraising, if it transpires, will serve as a bridge round to the IPO. OpenAI did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
The scale of this valuation suggests investors believe the company can sustain operations without immediate public scrutiny while addressing existential risks. A $1.4 trillion price tag implies confidence in future growth despite the delay in going public. The shift from a planned 2026 launch to a safety-first approach indicates a major change in corporate strategy.
* Revenue reached $40 billion in August
* Valuation rose from $852 billion to $1.4 trillion
* IPO delayed to prioritise AI safety
