OpenAI Reportedly Weighing $1.5 Trillion Valuation in New Funding Round

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OpenAI is reportedly in discussions for a new funding round that could value the artificial intelligence giant at up to $1.5 trillion. This potential raise comes just days after CEO Sam Altman announced that the company will not pursue an initial public offering in 2026.

Key Facts

According to reports citing unnamed sources, investors recently approached OpenAI with an offer to invest at a $1.2 trillion valuation.

However, OpenAI is pushing for a significantly higher valuation of $1.5 trillion, more than double the $730 billion valuation secured in its previous funding round.

The Wall Street Journal also noted that the company had early-stage discussions with investors regarding a funding round at a valuation exceeding $1.2 trillion.

This heightened valuation is driven by the strong performance of OpenAI’s coding tool, Codex—directly competing with Anthropic’s Claude Code—as well as the reception of its latest models, GPT-6 Astra and GPT-5.6 Sol.

Reports indicate that by August, OpenAI was on track to achieve $40 billion in annualized revenue, representing a doubling of sales compared to the end of 2025.

How Does This Compare With Anthropic?

In May, Anthropic secured $65 billion in its Series H funding round, achieving a post-money valuation of $965 billion. The round was backed by major firms including Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks, and Sequoia Capital. More recently, Bloomberg reported that Anthropic is on track to surpass $65 billion in annualized revenue, potentially outpacing OpenAI’s figures. According to the Financial Times, Anthropic’s investors project its annualized revenue could reach between $100 billion and $120 billion by the end of 2026. It is important to note that annualized revenue figures are projections based on shorter-term earnings extrapolated over a full year. As the creator of Claude, Anthropic is anticipated to enter the public markets later this year, with investors valuing the company at potentially over $2 trillion.

What Has OpenAI Said About Its IPO Plans?

In an interview with Fortune, Altman confirmed that OpenAI will not go public in 2026. Citing significant safety concerns regarding the technology, the CEO described the current environment as an “ill-advised” time for an IPO. He emphasized that the company may need to prioritize safety and alignment progress over shareholder interests, even if it means pausing the development of frontier models. Altman reassured stakeholders that there is no immediate pressure to go public, stating, “We’ll do it when we’re ready.”

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