Apple withdrew from negotiations to participate in the OpenAI funding round, which should raise about $6.5 billion. The reasons for the unexpected refusal are currently unknown, writes MacRumors.
The development comes just a month after The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple was considering investing in OpenAI as part of a fundraising campaign.
The planned funding round will cement OpenAI’s status as one of the most valuable startups in the world. OpenAI is currently considering restructuring to become a commercial company.
While Apple has pulled out of the investment, other major tech companies remain involved. Microsoft, which has already invested $13 billion in OpenAI, is expected to contribute about $1 billion in the latest round.
As it became known yesterday, the Japanese SoftBank may invest $500 million in OpenAI. SoftBank, which plans to allocate about $9 billion annually to invest in artificial intelligence, has not previously invested in OpenAI.
