OpenAI Slashes Infrastructure Target to $600 Billion as Reality Sets In

When Sam Altman stood before investors last year and spoke of $1.4 trillion in infrastructure commitments, the number seemed almost fantastical—larger than the GDP of most nations, more than the annual defense budgets of the world’s ten largest militaries combined. This week, OpenAI delivered a different message to those same investors: the target is now $600 billion, and the timeline is tighter.

“The spending plan the company is offering is meant to more directly tie to its expected revenue growth.” — Sources familiar with OpenAI’s investor presentations

The $800 Billion Course Correction

OpenAI is now projecting roughly $600 billion in total compute spend by 2030, a significant downward revision from the ambitious infrastructure commitments touted just months ago. The change reflects growing concerns within the company—and among its backers—that expansion ambitions were outpacing the potential revenue to support them.

The artificial intelligence giant generated $13.1 billion in revenue in 2025, according to sources familiar with the company’s finances, exceeding its $10 billion target. The company burned through $8 billion, also beating its $9 billion burn target. But even these impressive numbers weren’t enough to justify the original trillion-plus infrastructure vision.

The revised spending plan is designed to more directly align with expected revenue growth, the sources said, suggesting a more measured approach to the infrastructure buildout that has defined the company’s strategy over the past year.

Revenue Projections and Valuation

OpenAI is projecting total revenue of more than $280 billion by 2030, with nearly equal contributions from its consumer and enterprise businesses. The projection represents a massive leap from current figures, requiring sustained growth rates that few technology companies have ever achieved.

The funding round currently being finalized could total more than $100 billion, with approximately 90% coming from strategic investors rather than traditional venture capital. Nvidia is in discussions to invest up to $30 billion as part of the round, which could value the company at $730 billion on a pre-money basis. SoftBank and Amazon are also participating as strategic investors.

The valuation would make OpenAI one of the most valuable private companies in history, though it comes with the pressure to deliver on revenue projections that dwarf even the most successful technology companies at similar stages.

“ChatGPT now supports more than 900 million weekly active users, up from 800 million as of October.” — Internal OpenAI metrics

The Battle for AI Dominance

OpenAI declared a “code red” in December to focus on improving ChatGPT in the face of mounting competition from rivals Google and Anthropic. The alert came after ChatGPT experienced a dip in growth during the fall, though the company reports it has since returned to record highs in both weekly active and daily active users.

Codex, the company’s coding product, has surpassed 1.5 million weekly active users and competes directly with Anthropic’s Claude Code, which has seen significant adoption over the past year. The coding assistant market has become a key battleground, with developers increasingly relying on AI tools for software development.

The rivalry with Anthropic has intensified as both companies race toward potential IPOs in late 2026. Anthropic recently launched a campaign suggesting other AI platforms will incorporate targeted ads in their chatbot conversations—a clear shot at OpenAI’s business model.

What the Reset Signals

The spending revision represents more than just a number change—it signals a maturation in OpenAI’s approach to growth. After years of explosive expansion fueled by venture capital and strategic partnerships, the company appears to be pivoting toward a more sustainable, revenue-aligned infrastructure strategy.

For the broader AI industry, OpenAI’s recalibration could have ripple effects. The company’s infrastructure partnerships with leading chipmakers and cloud providers were seen as a bellwether for the sector’s growth trajectory. A more measured approach from the industry’s most visible player may prompt others to reassess their own expansion plans.

The question now is whether $600 billion is still too ambitious—or if it’s the number that will finally align OpenAI’s infrastructure dreams with the reality of building a sustainable, profitable artificial intelligence business.

This article was reported by the ArtificialDaily editorial team. For more information, visit CNBC.