OpenAI resets spending expectations, tells investors compute target is around $600 billion by 2030

OpenAI is providing investors with a clearer view of how much it intends to spend to develop the computing infrastructure for its artificial intelligence technology. The company is now aiming to spend a total of $600 billion on compute infrastructure by 2030, which is a lower and more specific target than the previous estimates, which went as high as $1.4 trillion.

The new strategy takes into account a greater need for alignment between spending and revenue. As reported by CNBC, citing people familiar with the matter, the company intends to demonstrate to investors that the growth of infrastructure will be in line with business demand, and not just continue to grow indefinitely.

The company’s previous ambitions for infrastructure development had been outlined by its CEO, Sam Altman, who had emphasized the massive global infrastructure plans as the industry scrambled to secure chips, data centers, and energy resources for the development of advanced AI models.

OpenAI 2030, The $280 Billion Vision for Mass AI Adoption

OpenAI predicts that annual revenue may surpass $280 billion by 2030. The firm believes that consumer products and enterprise services will account for almost equal amounts. This is a good indication that the firm is banking on mass adoption of AI software as well as its integration into business operations.

Recent financial results offer some encouragement for this prediction. OpenAI recorded revenue of approximately $13.1 billion in 2025, surpassing its forecast of $10 billion. The firm also managed to lower its cash burn to about $8 billion, down from the expected $9 billion. Reducing losses while increasing revenue is often a positive indicator that a firm’s business model is on track.

Infrastructure is the biggest source of expenditure. OpenAI needs massive computing infrastructure to run its modern AI infrastructure. To get this infrastructure, OpenAI has partnered with leading technology companies and chip manufacturers.

One of the most notable discussions involves Nvidia, which is reportedly considering an investment of up to $30 billion as part of a broader funding round that could exceed $100 billion.

Roughly 90% of that financing may come from strategic investors rather than traditional venture capital. Other participants include SoftBank and Amazon, both of which bring cloud and infrastructure expertise that aligns with OpenAI’s long-term needs.

Analyzing OpenAI’s Shift Toward Organized Scaling

The funding round could value OpenAI at about $730 billion before new capital enters the company, placing it among the most valuable private technology firms in history. Such valuations reflect investor belief that AI will reshape software, search, and digital services over the next decade.

Competition also plays a role in the company’s strategy. Rivals such as Google and Anthropic continue to release powerful models and developer tools. OpenAI declared an internal “code red” late last year to sharpen focus on improving performance, reliability, and user experience after growth slowed for a period.

This seems to be having the desired effect. The company’s flagship chatbot now reaches over 900 million weekly active users, up from 800 million a few months ago. Growth has been restored in both daily and weekly engagement metrics, indicating that the demand for generative AI solutions has not waned despite the increasing competition.

Developer tools are also gaining popularity. OpenAI’s coding assistant has broken the 1.5 million weekly active user mark, indicating robust adoption among developers who rely on AI to develop, review, and test code. Coding assistants have emerged as one of the fastest-growing applications of AI, as companies look for ways to boost productivity without necessarily expanding their workforce significantly.

Overall, OpenAI’s revised spending plan indicates a shift from rapid scaling to more organized scaling. The company is still set to spend liberally on computing infrastructure but is now doing so in a manner more closely aligned with revenue projections and product adoption. The implication for investors is clear: growth will continue, but with more defined markers and financial prudence to guide the way ahead.