Core Viewpoint - OpenAI, despite its phenomenal success with ChatGPT, has yet to achieve profitability and faces significant financial challenges, particularly in scaling its operations and infrastructure to meet growing demand for AI capabilities [2][4]. Financial Projections - HSBC predicts that OpenAI will not be profitable even by 2030, with a user base projected to reach 44% of the global adult population, up from 10% in 2025 [2][4]. - The company will require an additional $207 billion in computing power investments to support its growth plans, reflecting soaring infrastructure costs and intense competition in the AI market [2][4]. Infrastructure and Cost Analysis - HSBC's semiconductor analyst team updated their forecasts for OpenAI, factoring in recent long-term cloud computing commitments with Microsoft ($250 billion) and Amazon ($38 billion), which do not involve new capital injections [3]. - OpenAI aims to achieve 36 gigawatts of AI computing power by the end of the decade, with the electricity demand equivalent to that of a state slightly smaller than Texas [3]. Revenue and Cash Flow - OpenAI's cumulative free cash flow is expected to remain negative through 2030, resulting in a funding gap of $207 billion that must be filled through debt, equity financing, or aggressive revenue generation strategies [4]. - Revenue is projected to exceed $213 billion by 2030, but this will not be sufficient to cover the anticipated costs, which will total $792 billion for cloud and AI infrastructure from 2025 to 2030 [4]. Market Dynamics and Risks - OpenAI's survival is closely tied to its financial backers and the broader AI ecosystem, with major investors like Microsoft and Amazon facing risks associated with OpenAI's uncertain revenue model and potential market saturation [5]. - The company may need to raise more debt to meet its computing needs, but this could be challenging in the current market environment, as other tech giants have also raised significant debt for AI-related capital expenditures [5]. Productivity and Economic Impact - HSBC references concerns about low productivity growth in developed economies, questioning whether the AI revolution will yield meaningful returns, similar to skepticism surrounding the internet revolution [6][7]. - Economic estimates suggest that without data centers, GDP growth rates could be significantly lower, raising questions about the sustainability of growth driven by AI and productivity improvements [7].
OpenAI在2030年前无法实现盈利,为维持增长将投入巨资
财富FORTUNE·2025-12-01 13:12