OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is reportedly allowing employees to sell $1.5 billion worth of shares to Japan’s SoftBank Group in a tender offer, according to CNBC. This move comes after OpenAI completed a $6.6 billion funding round in October, valuing the company at $157 billion.
SoftBank, led by billionaire CEO Masayoshi Son, has already invested $500 million in OpenAI and is aggressively seeking a larger stake. The tender offer, which closes this week, will enable current and former OpenAI employees to cash out their shares.
Neither OpenAI nor SoftBank commented on the report.