Behind this staggering growth is a booming business model. OpenAI’s annualised revenue has now reached approximately $12 billion, translating to nearly $1 billion per month, up from $10 billion earlier this year. Yet, the rapid expansion comes at a steep cost—OpenAI expects to burn through roughly $8 billion in 2025, raising questions about the long-term profitability of consumer-grade and enterprise AI at scale. Notably, the company now serves over five million paying business users, up from just three million a few months ago, illustrating that enterprise demand for AI is accelerating across sectors.
The implications of this growth stretch far beyond OpenAI’s balance sheet. With nearly 700 million weekly users, ChatGPT has entered a league of its own rivalling major social media platforms like Snapchat and surpassing the active user base of many long-standing tech giants. Analysts estimate that OpenAI is generating more than $23,000 per minute from its diversified monetisation channels, including ChatGPT Plus subscriptions, ChatGPT Enterprise, API usage, and potentially its forthcoming video generation tool, Sora.
Investor enthusiasm has mirrored this momentum. OpenAI recently secured $8.3 billion in new funding, led by SoftBank and top-tier venture capital firms, pushing its valuation close to $300 billion. These figures place OpenAI among the most valuable private tech companies globally, signaling strong market confidence despite the high burn rate.
Yet the race is far from over. Competitors like Google DeepMind, Anthropic, xAI, and Chinese platforms such as DeepSeek are all vying for global share. The competitive landscape is tightening as generative AI becomes a geopolitical and commercial priority, with nations and corporations alike racing to stake their claim.
Amid all the growth, OpenAI has begun rolling out features aimed at safeguarding user wellbeing. New tools include gentle reminders to take breaks and emotionally aware prompts, designed in collaboration with mental health experts. These additions follow rising concerns about AI dependency and hallucinations, especially among younger users and students who increasingly lean on ChatGPT for decision-making and academic tasks.
In summary, OpenAI’s continued rise paints a compelling picture of AI’s role in everyday life. From record-breaking usage to billion-dollar revenues, the company is transforming ChatGPT from a viral experiment into a core productivity layer for millions. But with great power comes greater responsibility—sustaining trust, managing safety, and delivering consistent value at scale will determine whether OpenAI’s lead can be defended or disrupted in the evolving global AI race.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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