Amazon and SoftBank lead $100 billion OpenAI funding round as tech giants bet big on ChatGPT maker

SoftBank in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI, source says

Jan 27 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T), opens new tab is in talks to invest as much as an additional $30 billion in OpenAI, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, as the Japanese conglomerate doubles down on its bet on the ChatGPT owner. The fresh investment would form part of a funding round that could raise up to $100 billion for OpenAI, valuing it at about $830 billion, the person said. The source declined to be identified as the information had not been publicly disclosed. Seeking to improve SoftBank's position in the artificial intelligence race, Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has made an "all-in" bet on OpenAI. In December, SoftBank said it had completed a $41 ⁠billion investment in OpenAI, giving it an 11% stake. OpenAI is grappling with rising costs to train and run its AI models as competition from Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google ratchets up. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. SoftBank, whose shares were up 3.5% in Tokyo morning trade, declined to comment. Reuters reported last month ⁠that Son ⁠had scrambled to marshal the funds for the previous investment, slowing most other dealmaking at SoftBank's Vision Fund to a crawl. Both OpenAI and SoftBank are also investors in Stargate, a $500 billion initiative to build AI data centers for training and inference that executives say is crucial to the U.S. government's ambitions to keep ahead of China in AI. Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman in San Francisco and Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Edwina Gibbs Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Amazon could invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI in coming weeks, source says

Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, speaking with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 20th, 2026. Amazon is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, CNBC confirmed on Thursday, in a significant vote of confidence from the e-commerce giant after it invested in one of the startup's biggest rivals. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy have been engaging in the discussions directly, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the details are confidential. The details are still fluid and the final total is subject to change, but the term sheet could be signed in the coming weeks, the person said. Amazon declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the $50 billion figure. OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit research lab in 2015, and it exploded into the mainstream in 2022 after launching its generative chatbot ChatGPT. OpenAI has grown into one of the largest commercial entities on the planet, and its valuation swelled to $500 billion in October after it finalized a secondary share sale. Amazon and OpenAI have been in talks about a potential investment since last year, and the final deal could include an agreement to use Amazon's AI chips, as CNBC previously reported. --CNBC's Annie Palmer contributed to this report

Amazon bets on OpenAI even as Wall Street cools to the ChatGPT maker

Why it matters: The potential deal comes as Wall Street has been shunning the stocks of companies that have already partnered with OpenAI (see Microsoft's decline on Thursday) as investors worry whether the AI upstart behind ChatGPT will ultimately be able to pay off all its backers. Zoom out: OpenAI has been seeking to raise up to $100 billion in new capital, per the Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report the Amazon talks. * An investment could include a deal for OpenAI to buy Amazon's AI chips, CNBC said. * That kind of circular dealmaking -- funneling money into companies you hope will give you business -- has also raised eyebrows among investors. Between the lines: And then there is a larger question of exactly where all that money is going. * Will OpenAI be able to cover the bill? Its annualized revenue surpassed $20 billion in 2025, up from $6 billion in 2024. * But it has $1.4 trillion in spending commitments. * That vast mismatch is what investors are worried about. What they're saying: OpenAI "was the halo around the heads of all these companies" whose stocks have taken a hit and now it "will become the noose around their neck," Daniel Newman, tech analyst and CEO of the Futurum Group, tells Axios. * Take Microsoft: The company recently reported a $620 billion backlog in upcoming revenue, but nearly half of that is expected to come from OpenAI. * The stock tanked 10% on Thursday, even though that's almost two years of revenue, because investors don't buy it. Yes, but: OpenAI is still seen as a winner in the AI race. * A new funding round could leave OpenAI valued at over $750 billion, according to The Information, which also reports that Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft are all lining up to write checks. * In other words, OpenAI has no trouble raising cash. State of play: Amazon's potential investment comes as the company is retrenching in other areas. * The company plans to lay off 30,000 people. * It closed AmazonFresh and AmazonGo, sunsetting its physical retail presence. * Amazon declined to comment. The bottom line: Amazon is casting out fishing lines to future-proof its business.

Tech Giants Circle OpenAI in Funding Round That Could Top $100 Billion - Decrypt

The discussions come as OpenAI prepares for a potential fourth-quarter initial public offering. OpenAI's largest suppliers may soon become its biggest backers. Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia are in talks to invest in the ChatGPT developer as it prepares for a potential fourth-quarter IPO, according to reports. Earlier reports said Amazon was in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move would make Amazon one of OpenAI's largest backers. Additional reporting by The Information said the fundraising effort could expand to include Microsoft and Nvidia, with the three companies collectively considering investments totaling as much as $60 billion. Amazon declined Decrypt's request for comment. Microsoft and Nvidia have yet to respond. The fundraising would be part of a larger capital raise that could reach $100 billion, as OpenAI seeks funding to cover the growing costs of training and operating its artificial-intelligence models, per the reports. OpenAI has signaled plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars over time on computing infrastructure, including data centers and specialized chips. For Amazon, a deal would deepen its relationship with OpenAI beyond cloud services. In November, OpenAI agreed to purchase $38 billion in computing services from Amazon Web Services over multiple years, even as it continued its relationship with Microsoft, which already holds a $135 billion stake in the ChatGPT developer. Despite Amazon's deals with OpenAI, the company has also invested billions in rival AI developer Anthropic, including $4 billion in 2024. The fundraising push is unfolding as OpenAI prepares for a public listing. OpenAI has begun laying the groundwork for an IPO later this year, according to the Wall Street Journal. During an interview on the Alex Kantrowitz podcast in December, Altman hinted at the potential of OpenAI going public, but noted "a bunch of things at play." "We need lots of capital; we're going to cross shareholder limits at some point. So am I excited to be a public company CEO? Zero percent," he said. "Am I excited for OpenAI to be a public company? In some ways, I am, and in some ways, I think it'll be really annoying." The company is reportedly holding early discussions with banks and venture capitalist firms, including Softbank, and expanding its finance team. A public offering could help OpenAI address investor concerns about how it plans to finance the scale of its infrastructure ambitions, which have kept the company in near-constant fundraising mode despite rising revenue. Whether the current talks result in finalized commitments remains unclear. Analysts suggest that unless its financial situation changes, OpenAI could run out of money by 2027.

Amazon in talks to invest $50 billion in OpenAI's new funding round

Amazon is reportedly in advanced negotiations to invest at least $50 billion in OpenAI, a move that would account for half of the AI company's targeted $100 billion funding round. According to The Wall Street Journal, talks are being led directly by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. If completed, this capital injection could propel OpenAI's valuation to a colossal $830 billion, further cementing its dominance in the generative AI landscape. The potential deal strikes a surprising tone given Amazon's deep existing commitment to OpenAI rival Anthropic. Amazon has already invested over $8 billion in Anthropic and serves as its primary cloud provider, recently launching an $11 billion data center campus in Indiana dedicated exclusively to Anthropic's models. OpenAI is reportedly filling out the rest of this record-breaking round through discussions with sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, as well as tech giants Nvidia, Microsoft, and SoftBank, with the deal expected to close by the end of the first quarter.

Amazon in talks to invest billions in OpenAI, source says - The Economic Times

Big Tech companies are racing to forge partnerships with OpenAI, betting that closer ties with the artificial-intelligence startup would give them a competitive edge in the AI race.Amazon is in talks to invest dozens of billions in OpenAI and the figure could be as ⁠high as $50 billion, a source told Reuters on Thursday. The talks are still in the early stages and the final numbers have not been finalized, the source said. Big Tech companies are racing to forge partnerships with OpenAI, betting that closer ties with the artificial-intelligence startup would give them a competitive edge in the AI race. OpenAI is looking to raise up to $100 billion in funding, valuing it at about $830 billion, Reuters reported on Tuesday. SoftBank Group Corp is in talks to invest as much as an additional $30 billion in the ChatGPT maker. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is leading the negotiations with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the development. Investing up to $50 billion could make Amazon the biggest contributor to the AI company's ongoing fundraising round. Amazon declined to comment, while OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters when contacted. OpenAI is grappling with rising costs to train and run its AI models as competition from Alphabet's Google ratchets up. Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft are also in talks to invest up to $60 billion in OpenAI, the Information reported on ⁠Wednesday. Nvidia, an existing ⁠investor whose chips power OpenAI's AI models, is in talks to invest up to $30 billion, while Microsoft, a longstanding backer, is in talks to invest less than $10 billion. OpenAI, which signed a $10 billion computing deal with Nvidia challenger Cerebras earlier this month, is laying the groundwork for its own IPO that could value it at up to $1 trillion, Reuters had also reported.

OpenAI In Talks To Raise Billions From Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft: Report - Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

OpenAI Inc. is reportedly in discussions to secure funding of nearly $40 billion from its major suppliers, NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT). NVIDIA could potentially invest up to $20 billion in OpenAI, while Amazon is considering an investment of $10 billion or more. Microsoft, which already holds a 27% stake in OpenAI, is also expected to make a significant investment, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. According to another report by The Information, the funding that OpenAI is seeking from these tech giants is $60 billion. It is unclear whether the potential $20 billion investment from NVIDIA would be in addition to the $100 billion deal or if it would lead to a revision of the terms between the two companies, the FT reported. OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia did not immediately respond to Benzinga's requests for comment. OpenAI Eyes $100 Billion Funding, Q1 Close Meanwhile, Altman said AI advances are enabling employees to produce more with smaller teams, leading the company to slow its hiring pace even as it continues to add staff. He noted that AI has significantly increased worker productivity, allowing OpenAI to grow output with fewer people. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image via Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

SoftBank in talks to invest $30 billion more in OpenAI, report says

SoftBank Group is in discussions to invest as much as $30 billion more in OpenAI, a sharp increase in commitment that reflects founder Masayoshi Son's ambitions to play a central role in developing artificial intelligence. The Japanese company, already one of the ChatGPT-maker's biggest backers, is in deliberations to commit more capital toward the fast-growing startup, people familiar with the matter said. The maximum amount SoftBank is considering is $30 billion, one of the people said, asking to remain anonymous to discuss private talks. They cautioned that the discussions are fluid and the amount of funding could change. SoftBank's shares rose 5.8% in Tokyo on Wednesday. Son has been unwinding positions to increase its stake in OpenAI and ready capital for sweeping investments aimed at injecting AI in all devices. It sold its stake in Nvidia and recently hit pause on talks to buy out U.S. data center operator Switch. The Tokyo-based company had amassed an 11% stake in OpenAI, injecting $22.5 billion just last month.

OpenAI Courts Tech Giants for $100 Billion Funding Round | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The three tech giants are also in talks to join the artificial intelligence startup's $100 billion funding round, the Financial Times reported Wednesday (Jan. 28), citing unnamed sources. Nvidia could invest up to $20 billion, while Amazon has discussed kicking in at least $10 billion, the report said. (A separate report from The Information said Nvidia could invest up to $30 billion, and Amazon could invest up to $20 billion.) Microsoft, which holds a 27% stake in OpenAI, could also contribute several billion dollars more, the FT report said, while The Information put the figure at less than $10 billion. Put together, these commitments would help OpenAI with its goal of raising up to $100 billion at a valuation of $750 billion. These investments from the same companies that sell OpenAI the chips and data center capacity that power its products would heighten concerns among analysts about the startup's "circular" financial agreements, the FT report said. Meanwhile, SoftBank Group is in talks to invest another $30 billion in OpenAI. This would be on top of the $22.5 billion investment SoftBank made in OpenAI in December, raising its stake in the company to 11%. The move, reported by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, followed news from last week that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was meeting with investors in the Middle East in hopes of getting them to take part in a funding round. The as-yet-unprofitable company has committed to spending more than $1.4 trillion on AI infrastructure in the coming years. In other AI news, PYMNTS reported Wednesday on Microsoft's evolution from a company that based its transformation on cloud computing. "By migrating enterprises from on-premise software to subscription services and hyperscale infrastructure, the Redmond, Washington-based tech giant in many senses rewired corporate infrastructure from the ground up, or the cloud down," the report said. However, Microsoft's second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call suggested that the company's latest transformation story now revolves around AI. "We are only at the beginning phases of AI diffusion, and already Microsoft has built an AI business that is larger than some of our biggest franchises," Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella said. "We are pushing the frontier across our entire AI stack to drive new value for our customers and partners."

SoftBank In Talks To Invest $30 Billion More In OpenAI: Report - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY)

SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY) is in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI, as the ChatGPT maker seeks up to $100 billion in new capital, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. SoftBank and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Benzinga's requests for comment. SoftBank's Tokyo-listed shares rose over 8% on the news, before paring gains. They were last up 3.7% on Wednesday afternoon. AI Bet Gets Bigger The Japanese conglomerate is one of the largest shareholders in OpenAI, with a stake of about 11% after it completed the final $22.5 billion investment last month. SoftBank has moved aggressively to reposition itself around artificial intelligence. To fund the OpenAI bet, the company said it sold its stake in chipmaker Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) and telco T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) in November, scaled back Vision Fund activity, and tightened capital allocation. The Tokyo-based firm also reportedly hit pause on talks to buy out U.S. data center operator Switch Inc. OpenAI, which is weighing a potential initial public offering, needs substantial funding to continue developing its AI models, while paying for its vast computing needs, and retaining top talent in a competitive market. The Sam Altman-led company is also aiming to raise capital from Middle Eastern sovereign-wealth funds and other venture capital funds, and the latest capital injection, if successful, could value it at as much as $830 billion, WSJ reported. Earlier this week, Altman said the company was planning to dramatically slow down hiring as advances in artificial intelligence allow companies to grow output with smaller teams. Image via Shutterstock NVDANVIDIA Corp $189.500.52% Overview SFTBYSoftBank Group Corp $13.09-% TMUST-Mobile US Inc $184.30-0.10% Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

SoftBank Considers Adding $30 Billion to Investment in OpenAI | PYMNTS.com

This investment would be in addition to the $22.5 billion investment SoftBank made in OpenAI in December 2025, which increased its stake in the artificial intelligence (AI) startup to 11%, according to the report. SoftBank's investment would be part of a funding round in which OpenAI aims to raise $100 billion at a valuation of as much as $830 billion, the report said. The talks are ongoing, and the terms could change, per the report. Neither SoftBank Group nor OpenAI immediately replied to PYMNTS' request for comment. SoftBank's $22.5 billion investment in OpenAI in December marked the second closing of the investment of up to $40 billion to which the company committed in March 2025, it said in a December press release. Together with a previous investment and participation from other third-party co-investors, it fully funded SoftBank's commitment, according to the release. "We are deeply aligned with OpenAI's vision of ensuring AGI [artificial general intelligence] benefits all of humanity," SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said in the release. It was reported in October 2025 that OpenAI achieved a valuation of $500 billion that month when it allowed current and former employees to sell roughly $6.6 billion in shares. That made OpenAI the world's most valuable startup. Before that, OpenAI was valued at $300 billion in March 2025 after its $40 billion deal with SoftBank. It was reported Thursday (Jan. 22) that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was meeting with investors in the Middle East in hopes of gaining their participation in a funding round. PYMNTS reported at the time that the as-yet-unprofitable company has committed to spending over $1.4 trillion in AI infrastructure in the years ahead. It was reported Tuesday (Jan. 27) that AI startup Anthropic is close to finalizing a fundraising deal in which it will raise $20 billion and be valued at $350 billion. Anthropic has doubled the amount it is in talks to raise after seeing a high level of demand from investors.

Amazon could invest up to $50B in OpenAI: report

Amazon is reportedly in talks to invest as much as $50 billion into Sam Altman's OpenAI -- in what would be a massive bet on the ChatGPT creator. Amazon boss Andy Jassy is leading negotiations with Altman, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The sources said the potential terms were not finalized and subject to change. OpenAI is reportedly aiming to raise up to $100 billion in a fundraising round that would value the artificial giant at $830 billion. Amazon would be the largest single contributor to the round if it follows through with a $50 billion bet. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the report. OpenAI did not immediately return a request for comment. Amazon already holds a sizable take in Anthropic, which is one of OpenAI's chief rivals in the AI sector. Earlier this week, the retail giant laid off about 16,000 employees. The company said the cuts were meant to streamline its operations and management ranks, but Amazon executives have also acknowledged that advancements in AI were a factor in the restructuring. Meanwhile, Japanese investment giant SoftBank, which is already one of OpenAI's largest shareholders, is in discussions to pour as much as $30 billion more into the company, The Journal previously reported. Earlier this week, The Information reported that Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft were in talks to collectively invest more than $60 billion in OpenAI. The tech outlet's sources said Amazon was mulling an investment of up to $20 billion or more. Microsoft, a longtime OpenAI investor, was said to be in talks to add less than $10 billion to the round. The fundraising round would come at a critical time for OpenAI, which recently declared "code red" as it aims to improve ChatGPT amid increased competition from Google and other tech giants. OpenAI is also reportedly considering going public.

NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon Consider Up to $60B OpenAI Investment Talks

The talks could lift OpenAI's valuation to about $730 billion, based on figures cited by the same people. However, no signed term sheets or finalized commitments are public. People familiar with the talks say Nvidia is considering investing up to $30 billion in OpenAI. already backs OpenAI, and its chips power OpenAI's AI workloads. The same people say Microsoft is considering an investment of less than $10 billion. Microsoft has supported OpenAI for years and maintains a close commercial relationship. Sources say Amazon is discussing an investment well above $10 billion. The amount could exceed $20 billion, which would make Amazon a major new backer. However, the figures remain discussion points, not confirmed allocations. Consequently, markets cannot treat the numbers as final deal terms. In addition, the parties have not disclosed a timing for any closing. That leaves room for changes as negotiations continue.

SoftBank considers additional $30 bln investment in OpenAI - WSJ By Investing.com

Investing.com-- SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) is in talks to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI, deepening its exposure to the artificial intelligence company, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The discussions are ongoing, and terms could still change, the report said. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is seeking to raise as much as $100 billion in new funding, a round that could value the company at up to $830 billion if successful, the Journal has previously reported. SoftBank is already one of OpenAI's largest shareholders. Its stake rose to about 11% in December after it invested $22.5 billion, the WSJ reported. The company is also weighing a potential IPO and courting Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and venture capital investors, the report added.

Amazon considers investing up to $50bn in OpenAI to bolster its AI strategy

Amazon is said to be in advanced talks to invest up to $50bn in OpenAI, according to multiple sources. The project, led directly by CEOs Andy Jassy and Sam Altman, would be part of a $100bn funding round aimed at supporting the artificial intelligence company's expansion. The fundraising could be structured in two phases, with the first bringing in strategic partners such as Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia, followed by a financial tranche involving investors such as SoftBank, which is considering a commitment of up to $30bn. The investment would complement the e-commerce giant's accelerated AI strategy, as it is already deeply involved with Anthropic, creator of the Claude models, with Amazon serving as its cloud partner via AWS. OpenAI, valued at $500bn after a secondary sale in October, could see its valuation rise further as part of the deal. In parallel, Amazon is pursuing a policy of budget tightening, with 16,000 jobs cut this week, to focus resources on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure. According to sources familiar with the matter, the agreement could include OpenAI's use of AI chips developed by Amazon, creating new synergies between the two companies. While Amazon remains committed to Anthropic, a strategic partnership with OpenAI would mark a new step in its AI race against rivals. For 2026, Amazon is planning record investments of $125bn, making AI a central pillar of its technology transformation.

Amazon in talks to invest up to $50 bn in OpenAI after cutting thousands of jobs

This would strengthen the companies' existing relationship. Amazon is reportedly in discussions to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT. If the deal goes through, it would be one of the largest bets yet on the fast-growing AI startup. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is said to be leading the talks with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to WSJ. However, the details of any potential agreement are still being worked out and could change. OpenAI is looking to raise as much as $100 billion from investors in its latest funding round, which could value the company at around $830 billion. If Amazon invests tens of billions in OpenAI, it could become the largest contributor in the company's ongoing fundraising round. Other big investors are also in talks. SoftBank, for example, could invest up to $30 billion. OpenAI is also seeking investment from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and venture capital firms. Its current investors include Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, and the United Arab Emirates fund MGX. Also read: Apple clocks record December-quarter revenue in India as new iPhone buyers surge A partnership with Amazon would strengthen the companies' existing relationship. OpenAI has relied heavily on Microsoft for computing power, but recently signed a deal to buy $38 billion in cloud services from Amazon Web Services over several years. Amazon has also invested in OpenAI competitor Anthropic, putting $8 billion into the company and developing an $11 billion data centre campus for it in Indiana. Amazon has been increasing its investment in AI both to improve its services and for internal use. At the same time, the company has been cutting costs, including job reductions. In October, it laid off around 14,000 employees and announced another 16,000 corporate job cuts this week. Also read: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes future without AI glasses is hard to imagine, here's why Founded in 2015, OpenAI has quickly become one of the most influential technology companies in the world. The company has spent billions to support the massive computing power needed for its AI models and to hire top researchers. OpenAI recently started showing ads as a new way to generate revenue.