OpenAI, the Californian startup behind conversational robot ChatGPT and image generator Dall-E 2, is attracting growing interest from the tech world, though its financial model has yet to be defined.
After investing $1 billion in this artificial intelligence (AI) tools specialist, Microsoft would inject a sum ten times that amount as part of a fundraiser, website Semafor revealed.
If the operation goes through, OpenAI’s valuation could then reach the astronomical figure of $29 billion.
Microsoft and OpenAI have not confirmed this information to AFP.
“Because ChatGPT is one of the most innovative AI technologies in the industry, Microsoft is clearly aggressive on this front and has no intention of falling short of a breakthrough investment in AI,” said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities.
The computer giant, which makes no secret of its ambitions in terms of AI, has already integrated Dall-E 2 into several of its applications. He wants to add ChatGPT to his Bing search engine and compete with Google’s, Bloomberg understands.
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Since the launch of ChatGPT at the end of November, the power of this chatbot, capable of formulating detailed answers on the most diverse topics in a few seconds, has aroused the curiosity and fascination of Internet users.
Its success is partly due to OpenAI’s clever marketing strategy, points out AI specialist Robb Wilson, founder of chatbot development platform OneReach.ai.
“Making this technology available to experts is one thing,” says Wilson.
“Offering it through a user interface and letting the general public play with it was what sparked” the wave of enthusiasm for this tool, he continues.
Founded in late 2015, OpenAi is led by 37-year-old entrepreneur Sam Altman, former president of startup accelerator Y Combinator.
From the start, the company has had the financial backing of renowned donors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, investor Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.
The multi-billionaire served on OpenAI’s board until 2018, but left the company to focus on his responsibilities at Tesla.
The startup also relies on a team of computer scientists and researchers led by Ilya Sutskever, a former Google executive who specializes in machine learning.
OpenAI, which did not respond to AFP’s requests, had about 200 employees in 2021, according to a request posted directly on ChatGPT.
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While OpenAI promises a lot technologically, the company has yet to find its way to financial stability.
Founded as a non-profit association, the start-up became a capped profit company in 2019 to mobilize capital.
While announcing Microsoft’s investment, Microsoft also announced its intention to commercialize its technologies.
Recently, one of OpenAI’s co-founders, Greg Brockman, reported that a paid version of ChatGPT is in the works. This will provide users with advanced features, including even faster replies.
Finding financing seems necessary for a company with exorbitant expenses.
In a Twitter exchange with Elon Musk in early December, Sam Altman acknowledged that every conversation on ChatGPT OpenAI costs several cents.
The company pays $100,000 a day for its chatbot, or about $3 million a month, according to estimates by Tom Goldstein, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland.
Partnering with Microsoft, which provides the start-up with its remote computing services, could reduce costs.
“It’s not cheap either way,” Goldstein said.
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