OpenAI closes $110 billion funding round with backing from Amazon, Nvidia, Softbank

Core Insights - OpenAI has successfully closed a $110 billion funding round, significantly surpassing its previous record raise of $50 billion from a year ago [1] - The funding round includes major investments from Amazon ($50 billion), Nvidia ($30 billion), and SoftBank ($30 billion), elevating OpenAI's pre-money valuation to $730 billion, up from $500 billion in October [2] - OpenAI aims to expand its global reach and strengthen its infrastructure through these partnerships, enabling broader access to frontier AI technologies [3] Financial Strategy - OpenAI has indicated a target of approximately $600 billion in total compute spending by 2030, following earlier statements from CEO Sam Altman regarding $1.4 trillion in infrastructure commitments [5] - The company is providing a more conservative estimate and timeline for its planned spending amid concerns about the feasibility of its expansion ambitions relative to expected revenue [5] Industry Impact - Since the launch of ChatGPT over three years ago, OpenAI has significantly influenced the technology sector and established the generative AI era [4] - Continuous funding is essential for OpenAI to support its ambitions, particularly in acquiring graphics processing units and enhancing its infrastructure [4]