OpenAI is considering raising a large new round of capital, according to a report, even as the artificial intelligence industry has been warning about AI's dangers and calling for a slowdown in development. The news is likely to fuel debate at a time when criticism is mounting that the slowdown argument amounts to large AI companies protecting their own interests.
The Financial Times reported on the 15th, citing sources, that OpenAI is weighing an additional fundraising round targeting a valuation of $1.2 trillion, or about 1,630 trillion won. In March this year, OpenAI raised $122 billion at a valuation of $852 billion. If the new round goes ahead, it would be the first time OpenAI is valued at more than $1 trillion.
The discussions emerged after the company's initial public offering plans were pushed back to next year. OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman said on the 12th that a listing before 2027 was unlikely, adding that pursuing an IPO would not be a wise decision at a time of growing concern about the existential risks AI could pose.
Meanwhile, an "AI standards body" reportedly being pursued by OpenAI, Anthropic and Google is already drawing antitrust scrutiny. Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei proposed on his blog on the 12th that certain safety-related discussions require an antitrust exemption in the interest of AI safety. But Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson called the idea highly suspect, describing it as an attempt to build a moat to keep rival companies out of the market. David Sacks, chair of the White House science and technology advisory council, said companies could slow down on their own without government permission and said the coordination looked like a cartel.
As the criticism grew, Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown, who handles government relations, held a video conference on the 15th with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Emil Michael, chief technology officer of the Department of Defense, according to reports. The substance of the talks was not disclosed, but it is presumed to have been an attempt to ease tensions with the administration.
Despite the intense debate, actual legal restrictions are expected to take time. OpenAI has said it would support the passage of AI regulation bills moving through the U.S. Senate and House, but the House will not reconvene until the November midterm elections, making passage this year unlikely.
