The AI company is expected to soon be worth $90 billion, three times more than at the start of the year.
With programs such as ChatGPT, OpenAI has become a big name in the tech world by taking the use of artificial intelligence to a whole new dimension.
If there is one giant that quickly understood this, it was Microsoft, with its total investment of 13 billion dollars. And although the latter could see its value increase greatly, the financial return would be much greater for the Redmond firm.
One of the most valuable private companies in the world
OpenAI is reportedly in talks with investors to sell part of its shares. According to Wall Street Journal, the company would encourage its employees to sell their shares in order to attract new partners. Although the information has not been confirmed, it is estimated that the start-up should be worth between $80 billion and $90 billion following the transaction. A rather high figure, which would make it one of the most valuable private companies in the world, just behind SpaceX and ByteDance, the Chinese giant that owns TikTok.
Beyond the financial aspect, this sale could also bring OpenAI new collaborators, thus giving it access to new tools. It would therefore be the same as the partnership with Microsoft which, in addition to its investment, also brought its Azure cloud infrastructure. The American giant, which holds 49% of the company’s shares, has nevertheless obtained a certain number of advantages which should bring it more than the capital gain from a possible resale of its shares.
A very good return on investment for Microsoft
Indeed, if Microsoft negotiated the integration of OpenAI programs into its services, it also receives a large share of the start-up’s profits. Of the billion dollars it plans to raise by the end of 2023, the American giant will hold… 75%. This deal will last until he recoups his $13 billion investment. Then, the rate will increase to 49% of profits, until it reaches a jackpot of $92 billion.
Once this milestone is reached, Microsoft’s shares will revert to the non-profit OpenAI Foundation. A rather happy ending to a financial adventure of gargantuan proportions.
Source : Wccftech
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