Sam Altman’s OpenAI smashed records this week by securing $6.6 billion in venture capital funding.
Some of the biggest firms in the industry came out to support OpenAI in its shift to a for-profit company. Microsoft, Fidelity and Nvidia were some of the major investors, with Thrive Capital leading the pack.
The funding round was the largest in history, beating out rival xAI, which secured a $6 billion VC funding deal this year.
The successful funding will help OpenAI transform from a nonprofit company, focusing on developing artificial intelligence chatbots, to a for-profit entity looking to dominate the industry.
“The new funding will allow us to double down on our leadership in frontier AI research — increase computing capacity and continue building tools that help people solve hard problems,” the company said in a statement.
The transformation reportedly created a rift at OpenAI, with several key figures departing. Last week, Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati said she was leaving the company along with two top researchers.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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