OpenAI won't make money by 2030 and needs another $207B, HSBC estimates

13 days ago

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OpenAI's financial challenges persist despite ChatGPT's success, with profitability not expected until after 2030.
HSBC projects OpenAI will need $207 billion in additional compute power to meet growth, with infrastructure costs soaring.
OpenAI's revenue is projected to reach $213 billion by 2030, but this won't cover its $792 billion infrastructure costs.
Options to bridge the funding gap include increasing paid subscribers, capturing digital ad revenue, or improving compute efficiency.
OpenAI's survival depends on backers like Microsoft and Amazon, with risks including unproven revenue models and regulatory scrutiny.
HSBC suggests raising debt is challenging due to market conditions, with Oracle and Meta already increasing AI-related debt.
Productivity gains from AI remain uncertain, with some economists skeptical about meaningful returns from tech revolutions.
Post-pandemic wage inflation is pushing companies to automate, shifting focus to asset-heavy investments like data centers.
Data centers contributed significantly to GDP growth in 2025, raising questions about sustainable AI-driven economic expansion.

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