A consortium of global banks is reportedly engaged in advanced discussions to provide nearly $38 billion in financing for OpenAI’s next phase of infrastructure development. According to people familiar with the matter, the proposed funding would support the construction and expansion of high-capacity data centers designed to power the company’s accelerated push into artificial intelligence at scale.
Funding Expected to Back Massive Compute Sites
The loan package is intended to underwrite new hyperscale data center sites, equipped with cutting-edge chips, advanced cooling systems, and next-generation networking needed for training increasingly complex AI models. Industry analysts suggest that OpenAI’s compute demand has grown exponentially following its rapid model evolution and rising competition in the global AI arena.
Banks Optimistic About AI’s Economic Payoff
Financial institutions involved in the conversations reportedly view the deal as a strategic entry point into the booming AI infrastructure economy. With enterprises worldwide racing to adopt generative AI tools, banks see lending for large compute projects as a stable long-term opportunity, backed by anticipated revenue from cloud partnerships and enterprise AI services.
Potential Landmark Deal in Tech Lending
If finalised, the $38 billion loan would rank among the largest debt financings ever extended to a technology firm, marking a significant milestone for the AI sector. It reflects broader market confidence in OpenAI’s growth trajectory and its expanding partnerships with major cloud providers, including Microsoft.
OpenAI Scaling Up Amid Competitive Pressure
The proposed financing also comes at a time when AI developers are locked in a race to secure computing power. Companies across the globe are building energy-dense facilities to keep pace with the increasing computational strain of training multimodal and frontier-level AI systems.
No Official Confirmation Yet
As of now, OpenAI and the banks involved have not issued public statements about the financing negotiations. However, insiders note that discussions are progressing steadily, with structuring decisions — including repayment timelines and collateral terms — still under review.