Apple and Nvidia Also Join OpenAI Investment... AI Arms Race Heats Up (Comprehensive)

WSJ·Bloomberg Report
Will OpenAI Receive Investment from Big Tech's Top 3?
Valuation Likely to Rise from Current 133 Trillion Won

Apple and Nvidia are considering participating as additional investors in OpenAI, the developer of 'ChatGPT.' If this funding round is successful, OpenAI is expected to attract investments from the three major big tech companies, further increasing its current corporate value of over $100 billion (approximately 133.3 trillion KRW). The AI arms race in Silicon Valley is also expected to intensify.

On the 29th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Bloomberg News reported, citing sources, that Apple and Nvidia are discussing investing in OpenAI.

Earlier, WSJ reported the day before that OpenAI is discussing additional funding led by the well-known U.S. venture capital firm Strive Capital. Strive Capital plans to invest $1 billion (approximately 1.33 trillion KRW), and Microsoft (MS), OpenAI's largest existing investor, is also expected to make additional investments. In addition, Apple, a latecomer to AI, and Nvidia, the biggest beneficiary of AI as a monopoly in the AI chip market, are considering joining as new investors to provide funding.

However, the exact amount of new investment from Apple, Nvidia, MS, and other companies in OpenAI has not been disclosed.

In particular, Apple's discussions about investing in OpenAI are seen as a move to strengthen cooperation to secure competitiveness in AI services, where it has relatively lagged behind. Unlike MS and Google, which are leading the AI market, Apple is evaluated as less competitive. Accordingly, at the 'Annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024' in June, Apple announced the introduction of ChatGPT by unveiling its first AI system, 'Apple Intelligence,' signaling cooperation with the leading OpenAI. In July, Apple also obtained the status of an observer on OpenAI's board of directors.

If OpenAI succeeds in this additional funding round, it will be the largest external funding since receiving $10 billion (approximately 13.33 trillion KRW) from MS in January last year. Since 2019, MS has invested $13 billion (approximately 17.33 trillion KRW) and currently owns 49% of OpenAI's shares. OpenAI's corporate value, currently estimated at over $100 billion (approximately 133.3 trillion KRW), is also expected to increase further once this additional funding is completed.

Following MS, with Apple and Nvidia also expected to invest in OpenAI, the AI arms race among big tech companies in Silicon Valley is anticipated to heat up further. Some speculate that as Apple seeks to strengthen cooperation with OpenAI, where MS is the largest shareholder, a rivalry and tension may arise between MS and Apple, who are in a competitive relationship.