OpenAI CFO tells investors funding round should close by next week despite executive departures

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar is looking to reassure its investors that nan richly weighted artificial intelligence startup is still successful a beardown position and is poised to adjacent a large backing information soon, contempt losing apical talent this week.

In an email to OpenAI's investors seen by CNBC, Friar addressed nan departure of Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who announced her exit connected Wednesday. Later that day, Sam Altman said 2 apical investigation executives, Bob McGrew and Barret Zoph, were besides leaving.

"I wanted to personally scope retired pursuing nan news of Mira's departure from OpenAI," Friar wrote. "While activity changes are ne'er easy, I want to guarantee you person nan afloat context."

Friar added that, "We are incredibly proud of everything she's helped build," and said nan San Francisco-based institution still has a "talented activity bench" to compete.

OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft and precocious collaborated pinch Apple connected its AI for iPhones, is successful nan midst of closing a $6.5 cardinal funding round, which should worth nan institution astatine astir $150 billion, according to sources acquainted pinch nan matter. Thrive Capital is starring nan round, and plans to put $1 billion, according to nan sources.

Friar said successful nan email that nan backing information was oversubscribed and would adjacent by adjacent week. She said nan squad plans to big a bid of calls pinch investors to present nan group to cardinal leaders from merchandise and investigation teams.

"Collectively, we stay laser-focused connected bringing AI to everyone and building sustainable gross models that substance our operations and present worth to our investors and employees," Friar wrote. The institution is "excited for you to beryllium pinch america arsenic we participate our adjacent chapter," she wrote.

OpenAI declined to remark connected nan email.

Murati's departure comes aft 6½ years astatine nan company. She concisely served arsenic interim CEO past twelvemonth aft nan committee of board abruptly fired Altman. When Altman was quickly reinstated, Murati returned to nan domiciled of CTO.

The institution was already dealing pinch nan nonaccomplishment of cardinal executives. Co-founder John Schulman and information main Jan Leike near to subordinate rival Anthropic. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever departed to commencement different AI company, while different founder, Greg Brockman, is connected a time off of absence.

Friar said Mark Chen will measurement into nan domiciled of of elder vice president of research, and leaders for illustration Kevin Weil, who joined from Meta, and Srinivas Narayanan are nan "right group to support pushing nan boundaries of innovation."

Friar was formerly CEO of Nextdoor, and earlier that CFO astatine Block, formerly Square.

Also connected Thursday, astatine an all-hands meeting, Altman denied that location are plans for him to person a "giant equity stake" successful nan company, calling reports of specified a improvement "just not true," according to a personification who was successful attendance.

Altman and Friar some said astatine nan meeting, conducted by video, that investors person raised concerns astir Altman not having equity successful nan institution that he co-founded almost 9 years ago, said nan person, who asked not to beryllium named because nan gathering was only for employees.