• OpenAI is in talks to raise USD 10B from major venture investors, potentially lifting its valuation close to USD 860B.
• Abu Dhabi-backed MGX joins global funds, signaling continued Gulf interest in high-stakes artificial intelligence infrastructure and platform investments.
• The funding underscores rising AI costs, as companies race to secure computing power, talent, and enterprise-focused product development capabilities.

OpenAI

The AI giant, OpenAI is lining up another massive capital injection, as the artificial intelligence race continues to demand deeper pockets and faster execution.

The company is nearing a deal to raise around USD 10 billion from a group of venture investors. The round includes MGX, Coatue Management, and Thrive Capital. Additionally, Altimeter Capital is also expected to participate.

If completed, the deal would push OpenAI’s valuation to roughly USD 850 billion, including the new funding. That figure places it among the most valuable private companies globally.

Funding

This raise builds on an already enormous funding round. Last month, OpenAI secured about USD 110 billion from strategic backers including Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank Group. The company had signaled plans to bring in additional venture capital before closing the round.

The latest funding highlights a clear trend that AI is getting more expensive. Companies are pouring billions into chips, data centers, and top-tier talent. The goal is to build faster, scale wider, and dominate enterprise use cases.

For MENA, MGX’s involvement stands out. The Abu Dhabi-backed firm is doubling down on AI after co-leading a USD 30 billion raise for Anthropic earlier this year. That signals growing regional ambition to play a central role in global AI infrastructure, not just adoption.

At the same time, OpenAI appears to be refining its priorities. Reports suggest it may discontinue its Sora video-generation app to focus more on business and coding tools. That shift points to a broader industry move toward monetizable, enterprise-ready AI products.

The bottom line: Capital is still flowing aggressively into AI, but expectations are rising just as fast.