OpenAI is in early discussions to launch a stock sale that would allow employees to cash out and could boost its valuation to nearly $500 billion, up from $300 billion, according to Reuters. The deal would enable current and former employees to sell several billion dollars in shares ahead of a potential IPO. OpenAI now has roughly 700 million weekly active ChatGPT users and doubled its revenue in the first seven months of the year, reaching a $12 billion annualized run rate. The Microsoft-backed company is on track to hit $20 billion by year-end. The sale follows a $40 billion primary funding round led by SoftBank and reflects both rising investor interest and the escalating talent war in the AI sector. OpenAI is also exploring a corporate restructuring that could eventually pave the way for an IPO.
