Knowing: OpenAI buys back $7 billion in employee shares

On 11 August, according to an informed source, OpenAI completed a deal to help employees sell approximately $7 billion in company shares in preparation for a possible future landing on Wall Street for the first public collection of shares (IPO). Two knowledgeable sources stated that OpenAI ' s offer did not seek the involvement of outside investors, but rather directly bought back shares from current and former employees. The transaction was valued at $85.2 billion for the AI start-up company, consistent with its valuation in its most recent round of financing. In the past, OpenAI had also invited investors such as Thrive Capital and the Soft Silver Group to purchase employee shares。