OpenAI expects revenue to triple to $17 billion in 2025
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Since OpenAI introduced its ChatGPT chatbot, the company has rolled out a range of subscription offerings for consumers and businesses.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SAN FRANCISCO - OpenAI expects to more than triple its revenue in 2025 to US$12.7 billion (S$17 billion), fuelled by the strength of its paid artificial intelligence (AI) software, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The San Francisco-based company generated US$3.7 billion in annual revenue in 2024, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal communications. OpenAI expects revenue will continue growing at a fast clip, more than doubling in 2026 to US$29.4 billion, the person said.
OpenAI declined to comment. The New York Times reported in September 2024 that OpenAI was eyeing revenue of US$11.6 billion for 2025.
In the two-plus years since OpenAI introduced its ChatGPT chatbot, the company has rolled out a range of subscription offerings for consumers and businesses. In September 2024, it said it hit one million paid users for the corporate versions of ChatGPT.
More recently, the company added a US$200 monthly ChatGPT Pro option, with access to its most advanced AI models. OpenAI is also mulling over charging thousands of dollars a month for certain AI products.
While revenue is soaring, OpenAI is also confronting significant costs from the chips, data centres and talent needed to develop cutting-edge AI systems. OpenAI does not expect to be cash-flow positive until 2029, the person said, a year when it projects revenue will top US$125 billion.
OpenAI is close to finalising a US$40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp – with investors including Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, Founders Fund and Altimeter Capital Management in talks to participate, according to people familiar with the matter.
The AI developer’s funding round would be the largest of all time, according to data compiled by research firm PitchBook. The deal is set to value the company at $300 billion including dollars raised – almost double the ChatGPT maker’s previous valuation of $157 billion from when it raised money in October 2024. BLOOMBERG
