OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is in talks to sell $6 billion in shares owned by its current and former employees to investors, in a deal that would value the artificial intelligence company at roughly $500 billion, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

The AI startup is chasing a $500 billion valuation, with backers betting it can become the next Apple or Google. There are reasons for skepticism.

Current and former OpenAI employees plan to sell approximately $6 billion worth of shares to an investor group that includes Thrive Capital, SoftBank Group Corp. and Dragoneer Investment Group, in a deal that values the ChatGPT maker at $500 billion.

OpenAI reversed the change on Tuesday, allowing the previous model to be accessible by paid users, but the episode illustrates what researchers are calling “AI Psychosis,” where overly-pleasing chatbots exacerbate delusions and create a false sense of romantic love.

Aug 15 (Reuters) - Current and former employees of OpenAI are looking to sell nearly $6 billion worth of the ChatGPT maker's shares to investors including SoftBank Group (9984.T) and Thrive Capital, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.

OpenAI is in talks for a $6B employee share sale valuing the ChatGPT maker at $500B, making it the world’s most valuable private company.

GPT-5 was met with lukewarm reception. OpenAI intervened with a personality change. Is that going to be enough?

A young woman took her own life after talking to an ChatGPT-based AI therapist, named Harry. In a devastating opinion piece for the New York Times, her mother, Laura Reiley, detailed the events leading up to Sophie's suicide.