OpenAI secures $11B at $1.25T valuation in massive AI funding round
OpenAI wired approximately $11 billion Friday as the first close of a funding round valuing the ChatGPT maker at $1.25 trillion, per Bloomberg sources cited by Nairametrics. The round could reach $20 billion total, with Coatue Management and T. Rowe Price in the first close, plus SoftBank, Sequoia, Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and UAE investors in the broader round. OpenAI scaled back from an initial $30 billion target at $1.4 trillion valuation amid market concerns about AI infrastructure costs. This latest valuation represents a 46.7% jump from March 2026's $852 billion valuation after a reported $122 billion raise. The funding surge extends across AI: DeepSeek nearing $12 billion, xAI securing $3 billion from Saudi Arabia's Humain in February.
For Nigerians, this signals continued massive global capital flowing into AI infrastructure—potentially lowering API costs and expanding access to advanced models for local developers and startups. However, the scale also raises questions about whether returns can justify such valuations, which could affect investment sentiment for African AI ventures.
Will this capital influx accelerate AI tool accessibility for Nigerian businesses, or will the pressure for returns push premium features further out of reach?