OpenAI Revises Compute Spending Target to $600 Billion by 2030
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has announced a significant reduction in its compute infrastructure spending target, now projecting approximately $600 billion by 2030. This marks a sharp decline from the $1.4 trillion figure previously promoted by CEO Sam Altman last year, reflecting a strategic shift towards aligning expenditures with revenue expectations.
New Spending Plan and Revenue Projections
According to a CNBC report, OpenAI is providing a more defined timeline for its spending, closely linking it to anticipated revenue growth. The company forecasts over $280 billion in revenue by 2030, with consumer and enterprise businesses expected to contribute nearly equally. In 2025, OpenAI generated around $13.1 billion in revenue, surpassing its $10 billion target, while burning through $8 billion, slightly below the $9 billion forecast.
Major Funding Round and Strategic Investors
OpenAI is also in the process of finalizing a substantial funding round, anticipated to exceed $100 billion, with about 90% of the capital coming from strategic investors. Nvidia is reportedly in discussions to invest up to $30 billion, while SoftBank and Amazon are negotiating for large stakes. This funding round could value OpenAI at $730 billion pre-money, underscoring strong investor confidence despite the scaled-back spending plans.
Infrastructure Deals and Competitive Landscape
OpenAI's flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, now boasts more than 900 million weekly active users, recovering from a dip in growth last fall and up from 800 million in October. In response to competition from rivals like Google and Anthropic, the company declared a "code red" in December to enhance ChatGPT's performance. Additionally, OpenAI's coding product, Codex, has surpassed 1.5 million weekly active users, directly competing with Anthropic's Claude Code.
Investor Concerns and Strategic Realignment
The revised spending plan addresses investor concerns that OpenAI's earlier expansion ambitions were outpacing potential revenue streams. By scaling back infrastructure commitments, the company aims to reassure backers that its growth strategy is sustainable and aligned with long-term financial health, focusing on efficiency and revenue-driven scalability.
