In addition to its fundraising efforts, OpenAI is also strengthening its regional ties, with CEO Sam Altman planning visits to India and the UAE to discuss potential collaborations and investments.

India has become the fastest-growing market for ChatGPT, surpassing the U.S. in user share, with organizations like Rocket Learning and Noora Health leveraging AI to enhance education and healthcare.

The funding discussions come at a time when AI technologies are rapidly evolving, and companies are eager to maintain a competitive edge in this dynamic environment.

OpenAI is currently in discussions to raise a substantial $40 billion funding round, led by SoftBank, with additional investments from major players including the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Reliance Industries from India, and the UAE's MGX.

This funding is aimed at supporting model development and the Stargate infrastructure plan, with expectations of raising at least $100 million from investors like Coatue and Founders Fund.

SoftBank's commitment to this funding round underscores its confidence in OpenAI's growth potential, especially as the company recently reported an annual revenue run rate of $10 billion.

Earlier in 2025, Altman met with India's IT Minister to discuss building a low-cost AI ecosystem, highlighting India's emerging role as a significant player in the AI landscape.

If successful, this funding round could solidify OpenAI's valuation at approximately $260 billion, positioning it among the most valuable private tech companies globally.

The involvement of Saudi Arabia's PIF reflects the kingdom's strategic shift towards technology investments as part of its Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify its economy.

OpenAI's plans include establishing a data center in India to store customer data locally, which began discussions in February 2025.

OpenAI's rapid growth has been fueled by the soaring demand for its generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, which now boasts over 500 million weekly active users.

Overall, these developments reflect a pivotal moment in the global AI race, as countries and companies strive for influence and leadership in AI technology.