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Doomsday or new dawn: what will Nvidia, OpenAI’s circular dealmaking bring
The Economic Times·2025-10-08 13:36

Core Insights - The article discusses the significant investments and circular deals between Nvidia and OpenAI, raising concerns about the sustainability of the AI boom and potential risks of an AI bubble [12][10][6] Investment Activities - Nvidia has signed 50 deals by September 2023, compared to 52 in 2024, indicating a rapid pace of investment in AI infrastructure [9] - OpenAI has made substantial investments, including a $300 billion deal with Oracle for data centers and a $2 billion equity investment in Elon Musk's xAI as part of a $20 billion round [3][12] - CoreWeave, a neocloud company, has received investments from both Nvidia and OpenAI, with Nvidia holding a 7% stake and a $6.3 billion backstop deal for cloud services [4][12] Market Dynamics - The investments are seen as necessary to meet the surging demand for AI technology, with proponents arguing that they represent the new normal rather than a bubble [10][13] - Analysts express concerns that circular financing, where money circulates between companies, may artificially inflate valuations and create risks if demand drops or competition increases [6][11] Company Performance - OpenAI, valued at $500 billion, is yet to turn a profit while planning to invest trillions in AI infrastructure [8][13] - Nvidia, as the dominant player in AI chips, continues to invest heavily, with its deals propping up the valuations of involved parties [6][9] Future Outlook - Executives from both companies express confidence in the long-term viability of their investments, despite concerns about circular financing [10][13] - The potential for a drop in demand or competition from cheaper alternatives poses risks to the current AI investment landscape [11][12]