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OpenAI Reaches $12 Billion in Annualized Revenue: Report

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OpenAI Reaches $12 Billion in Annualized Revenue: Report
31 Jul 2025
5 min read

News Synopsis

According to a recent report Source, OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence giant and creator of ChatGPT, has reached $12 billion in annualized revenue. This figure translates to approximately $1 billion in monthly revenue, a staggering leap that reflects the rapid adoption of its generative AI tools by both individuals and businesses.

This sharp revenue surge suggests that OpenAI has effectively doubled its earnings in the first seven months of 2025, solidifying its status as one of the world’s most commercially successful AI companies.

ChatGPT Boasts 700 Million Weekly Active Users

The growth in revenue is strongly backed by the rising popularity of OpenAI’s flagship product—ChatGPT. The report estimates that over 700 million people use ChatGPT every week, with usage spanning both consumer applications and enterprise integrations.

This massive user base highlights ChatGPT's broad appeal, ranging from casual users seeking information to corporations integrating AI tools into their operations for automation, productivity, and customer support.

Cash Burn Projections Rise to $8 Billion

While revenue is soaring, OpenAI’s cash burn projection has also seen a notable increase. According to The Information, the company now expects to burn through $8 billion in 2025, up from its previous forecast of $7 billion.

This updated figure reflects OpenAI’s continued investments in AI infrastructure, talent acquisition, model training, and expanding global data centers to support the scale and reliability of its services.

Major Funding Round in Progress

To support its aggressive growth and operating costs, OpenAI is reportedly in the process of closing the second portion of a $30 billion funding round. The funding effort has attracted several big-name investors, including Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global Management, who are contributing hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to the report, total commitments from investors, including Japan’s SoftBank, are nearing $7.5 billion for this second tranche alone.

SoftBank’s Stake Grows to $32 Billion

SoftBank has emerged as one of OpenAI’s most significant investors. Since its initial investment in Autumn 2024, the Japanese tech conglomerate has steadily increased its backing, and the total value of its investment in OpenAI now stands at $32 billion.

SoftBank’s continued involvement underscores the confidence global investors have in OpenAI’s AI leadership and the future of generative technologies.

OpenAI Declines to Comment on Revenue Reports

While The Information cited a source for its claims, OpenAI has declined to confirm or comment on the report. Similarly, Reuters could not independently verify the revenue figures or funding details at the time of publication.

Nonetheless, the projected numbers and reported investor interest indicate that OpenAI is rapidly transforming from a research-focused organization into a commercial AI juggernaut with substantial financial momentum.

Conclusion

OpenAI's impressive financial growth underscores its dominant position in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. With annualised revenue hitting $12 billion and user engagement surging to 700 million weekly active users, the company has become a cornerstone in consumer and enterprise AI adoption. Backed by major investors like Microsoft, Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and SoftBank, OpenAI is not only scaling its operations but also attracting billions in funding to fuel future innovation. As the company increases its cash burn projections to support growth, the industry will be watching closely to see how OpenAI continues to balance aggressive expansion with long-term sustainability.

TWN Special