The terms, valuation and timing of the funding round have
not yet been finalized and could still change, the report said.
OpenAI has also held discussions to raise funding for a new
chip venture with Abu Dhabi-based G42, according to the report.
It is unclear if the chip venture and wider company funding
were related, the report said, adding that OpenAI has discussed raising between
$8 billion and $10 billion from G42.
OpenAI is set to complete a separate tender offer led by
Thrive Capital in early January, which would allow employees to sell shares at
a valuation of $86 billion, according to the report.
Microsoft (MSFT.O) has committed to invest over $10 billion
in OpenAI, which kicked off the generative artificial intelligence craze in
November 2022 by releasing ChatGPT.
Microsoft said it had nothing to share when contacted by
Reuters. OpenAI did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
ChatGPT, a chatbot which can generate human-like responses
based on user prompts, has helped AI's popularity and fueled a meteoric rise in
the valuation of San Francisco-based OpenAI. The company has previously made a
$300 million share sale at a valuation of $30 billion.
In late November, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Microsoft would
take a non-voting, observer position on the company's board.
OpenAI had ousted Altman on Nov. 17 without any detailed
cause, setting off alarm bells among investors and employees. He was reinstated
four days later with the promise of a new board.