OpenAI has raised over $4 billion for a new joint venture aimed at expanding the use of its artificial intelligence tools across large businesses, Bloomberg reports.
The venture, called The Deployment Company, brings together 19 investors, including TPG Inc., Brookfield Asset Management, Advent International and Bain Capital. SoftBank Group and Dragoneer Investment Group are also involved.
People with direct knowledge say the new company is valued at about $10 billion, not counting the new capital raised, while OpenAI will keep control of the business.
OpenAI wants its tools used inside more companies, not just tested. So it will place its engineers, who will help redesign workflows, automate routine tasks and ensure wider use of its software, directly within organisations backed by these investors.
This approach changes direction from simply selling access to software to focusing on hands-on deployment. It is closer to a service model, where companies pay not just for tools, but for implementation and ongoing support.
The investors backing the venture control more than 1,000 companies between them. That gives OpenAI a ready pipeline of clients without relying on long sales cycles. It also means faster rollout across sectors.
OpenAI has committed about $500 million upfront, with the option to increase that to $1 billion later. The rest of the funding will come from private equity firms over the next few years.
Interestingly, OpenAI is offering investors a 17.5% annual return, and if the venture doesn’t meet expectations, it will cover the gap, creating risk. On a $4 billion commitment, the shortfall could run into hundreds of millions each year if returns disappoint.
The development comes after Anthropic secured about $1.5 billion for a similar initiative. Its backers include Blackstone Inc., Goldman Sachs and Hellman & Friedman, who plan to deploy AI tools across their own investment portfolios.
Both companies are trying to prove that their technology can deliver value inside large organisations even as they move closer to potential public listings.
OpenAI is on track for about $30 billion in annual revenue this year, and at the same time, heavy spending on infrastructure could push losses as high as $14 billion.
