OpenAI Reports Renewed ChatGPT Growth Amid Approaching $100bn Valuation Round
OpenAI has informed staff that its flagship conversational AI platform is experiencing accelerated expansion, with monthly user growth returning to double-digit percentages.
The San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company disclosed internally that ChatGPT now surpasses 10% monthly growth, reaching more than 800 million weekly users. The firm plans to introduce an upgraded conversational model within days, marking its latest effort to maintain competitive positioning in the rapidly evolving generative AI sector.
The growth metrics come as OpenAI navigates increased competition from rivals including Google and Anthropic. The company initiated emergency measures in December to enhance ChatGPT's capabilities, redirecting resources from other development initiatives to address performance concerns.
OpenAI's programming-focused product, Codex, has shown particularly strong adoption, with usage rising approximately 50% over a seven-day period. The company recently released GPT-5.3-Codex alongside a dedicated application for macOS users. Codex operates in direct competition with Anthropic's Claude Code, which has built substantial market presence over recent months.
The performance update follows a week marked by public disagreement between the two AI firms. Anthropic aired Super Bowl advertisements that referenced OpenAI's plans to incorporate advertising into ChatGPT. OpenAI executives responded publicly, characterising the competitor's portrayal as misleading.
The company will commence advertising trials within ChatGPT this week. The advertisements will carry clear identification, display beneath response text, and operate independently from the system's answer generation. According to internal projections, advertising revenue will represent less than half of total income over the longer term.
OpenAI leadership has presented growth data to prospective investors as the company advances towards what may become a $100bn capital raise. Senior executives have emphasised consumer reach, expanding corporate adoption, and computational infrastructure access in private investor discussions.
Internal documentation shown to potential backers includes comparative analysis suggesting Codex is capturing market share from Claude Code. The company anticipates heightened fundraising activity over the coming fortnight.
OpenAI previously secured $41bn in March, comprising a $30bn commitment from SoftBank and $11bn from additional participants. The current financing round may conclude in multiple stages, with initial contributions expected from Microsoft, Nvidia, and potentially Amazon, which has explored deploying up to $50bn. Subsequent investment tranches could include further participation from SoftBank, which has considered an additional $30bn commitment.
Specific terms remain subject to ongoing negotiation and may be modified before finalisation.
Industry Impact and Market Implications
This development signals intensifying competition within the commercial AI sector, where market positioning increasingly depends on demonstrating sustained user acquisition and technical differentiation. OpenAI's emphasis on growth metrics, particularly in developer-focused products, reflects broader industry recognition that programming assistance tools represent a critical revenue pathway and enterprise entry point.
The company's move towards advertising-supported revenue diversification mirrors strategies employed by established technology platforms, though the approach remains relatively untested in generative AI contexts. Whether users will accept commercial messaging within AI interactions could influence monetisation models across the sector.
The scale of potential investment—nearing $100bn—underscores both investor confidence in AI's commercial viability and the substantial capital requirements for training advanced models and maintaining computational infrastructure. These funding levels may accelerate market consolidation, as smaller competitors face difficulty matching the resources available to well-capitalised firms.
OpenAI's competitive response to Anthropic, including rapid product releases and public messaging, suggests the AI market is transitioning from collaborative research culture towards traditional technology industry dynamics characterised by market share battles and differentiation strategies. This shift may influence development priorities, with commercial considerations increasingly shaping technical roadmaps.
