TMTPost --  Apple Inc. Is existing from talks to join in OpenAI’s latest funding round that is expected to raise about $6.5 billion, while Softbank Group Corp. emerges as a potential new investors in the round, according to recent reports.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

Apple recently fell out of the talks to join the round, which is slated to close next week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a knowledgeable person. It is reported that Microsoft and Nvidia were still in talks to participate in the round and the former is anticipated to invest about $1 billion. OpenAI declined to comment on the report. If it is accurate, Microsoft will have $14 billion cumulative investment into OpenAI since 2019.

The Wall Street Journal reported late August that OpenAI is in discussion about a new funding round that could see it valued at more than $100 billion, led by New York-based venture capital Thrive Capital, which is poised to invest around $1 billion. It reported Microsoft is also expected to put in money and Apple is in negotiations to join in. In addition, investment firm Tiger Global Management and United Arab Emirates state-backed company MGX are also reportedly in talks to participate. The report said it could’t be learned how much Apple or Microsoft will invest in OpenAI’s investment round, adding that Microsoft, as a primary strategic investor, owns a 49% share of the AI startup’s profits after investing $13 billion.

A Bloomberg reportlate August that Nvidia has discussed joining the abovementioned OpenAI’s funding round, echoing the Wall Street Journal that Apple and Microsoft have also been in talks about participating in the financing. Another Bloomberg report in September said OpenAI is in talks to raise  $6.5 billion from investors at a valuation of $150 billion, significantly higher than the $860 billion valuation from the company’s tender offer in February.

Softbank’s Visiion Fund plans to invest $500 million in OpenAI’s latest funding round, the Information quoted a person familiar with the deal earlier this week. The deal would represent Softbank’s first investment in the ChatGPT developer. The new funding round is reportedly led by Thrive Capital and Tiger Global Management, Coatue Management and Microsoft are also participating in. United Arab Emirates fund MGX, as well as Dragoneer Investment Group and Nvidia, according to the report.

The planned funding round would cement OpenAI as one of the world’s most valuable startups, but is also adds uncertainties for the artificial intelligence (AI) company. Reuters reported last week OpenAI is making a restructure plan to transform its core business into a for-profit benefit corporation that will not be under the control of its non-profit board. The transition is deemed as a move to make OpenAI more attractive to investors, The OpenAI non-profit will exist and hold a minority stake in the for-profit company, which could impact how the AI startup manage AI risks, according to the report.

 Bloomberg last week learned from anonymous sources that OpenAI is weighing turning into a public benefit corporation, tasked with turning a profit and also helping society. The company is also reportedly discussing giving OpenAI CEO Sam Altman a 7% equity stake, a major shift that would for the first time granted the chief executive ownership in the startup. If the reported fundrasing succeeds and Altman ends up with a 7% stake, his net worth could be hiked by more than $10 billion, which would land him among the world’s richest people.

Alman then said the plans to give him a “giant equity stake” in OpenAI is “just not true”, CNBC cited a person who attended an all-hands meeting Thursday. Altman also said “there are no current plans here” about his potential attaining a stake, the person said.

At the meeting, Altman and OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said investors have raised concerns about Altman not obtaining any equity in the company since he co-founded almost nine years ago, said the person.