OpenAI, backed by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), is generating sales of $1.3B a year, CEO Sam Altman told staff this week, the Information reported, citing several people familiar with the matter.
Altman’s comments imply the company is generating more than $100M a month, up 30% from this summer, mostly from conversational chatbot subscriptions. That compares to sales of $28M in 2022.
OpenAI created a paid version of ChatGPT in February as all things related to artificial intelligence attract billions of dollars and investor excitement.
The company’s revenue increase could help boost the company’s valuation as it organizes a tender offer for outside investors to buy shares from employees for the second time this year. Last month, it was reported that OpenAI was discussing letting employees sell stock at a price that implies the company is worth $80B or more.
Last year, OpenAI reportedly booked a $540M loss as it developed ChatGPT and GPT-4, the most advanced large language model, or LLM, it sells. Zoom Video Communications (ZM), Stripe (STRIP), Ikea and Volvo (OTCPK:VLVLY) (OTCPK:VOLAF) (OTCPK:VOLVF) have said they use GPT-4.
In January, Microsoft announced a “multibillion” dollar investment in OpenAI.