OpenAI has repurchased approximately $7 billion of company shares with employees in preparation for a possible future initial public offering on Wall Street. Two people familiar with the matter said that OpenAI did not seek outside investors to participate in this proposed acquisition, but instead directly bought back shares from current and former employees. The deal valued the AI startup at $852 billion, in line with its recent funding round. In the past, OpenAI invited investors such as Thrive Capital and SoftBank Group to buy employee shares.

OpenAI has repurchased approximately $7 billion of company shares with employees in preparation for a possible future initial public offering on Wall Street. Two people familiar with the matter said that OpenAI did not seek outside investors to participate in this proposed acquisition, but instead directly bought back shares from current and former employees. The deal valued the AI startup at $852 billion, in line with its recent funding round. In the past, OpenAI invited investors such as Thrive Capital and SoftBank Group to buy employee shares.