OpenAI has closed the first tranche of a new funding round, raising roughly $11 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation. The round could eventually reach up to $20 billion, though OpenAI originally targeted $30 billion at a $1.4 trillion valuation before scaling back. Microsoft, SoftBank, and Sequoia Capital joined the round, which reflects investor unease about AI infrastructure spending and data center risks. The company has delayed its IPO to 2027.
Rival Anthropic also faces lower valuation expectations amid the AI market pullback. The company had targeted a November IPO valuation near $1.5 trillion, but some investors now expect closer to $1 trillion. Anthropic has committed nearly $900 billion to computing and infrastructure while reporting heavy losses, adding to investor caution.
The market reaction extended beyond AI stocks. The S&P 500 fell 4.4% on November 5, wiping out trillions in market value. SpaceX shares dropped 9% that day and are down roughly 26% over the past month. Analysts suggest the selloff stems from macro fears about AI credit risk and data center delays rather than deteriorating fundamentals.
Apple took a different path from hyperscalers by skipping massive AI capex and still delivering results. In its Q3 2026 shareholder letter, Apple said over 80% of its top 100 games by hours engaged used AI tools to speed up creation in the past month. Daily asset uploads tripled month over month, and AI-made titles like Break and Steal an Egg broke into the top 20 by concurrent players.
Salesforce is sharpening its acquisition strategy around speed and outcomes. EVP John Somorjai said the company will only buy AI that ships fast, pointing to Finn, which deploys in 16 days and handles over 40% of help site traffic with 65% autonomous resolution. Salesforce completed eight acquisitions in 2025 and is shifting to outcome-based pricing for resolutions instead of seats.
On the infrastructure side, Riot Platforms disclosed a 15-year, roughly $28 billion lease for the 910 MW Corsicana AI data center campus with a Frontier AI lab. Contracted data center capacity now reaches 1,151 MW and about $38 billion in total contracted revenue. Third quarter 2026 revenue came in at $181.43 million with net income of $4.03 million.
Nvidia is tightening GPU tracking in Southeast Asia, requiring GPU monitoring for cloud partners seeking NCP status. The Fleet Intelligence service tracks GPU inventory, performance, and geolocation data, addressing concerns about AI chip smuggling to China. Current partners in other regions are not yet affected.
Security researchers warn that phishing attacks are now targeting AI email assistants through prompt injection. Hidden instructions in emails can trick assistants into forwarding messages and stealing sensitive data. One attack used a fake recruiting email with hidden commands to search for cryptocurrency keys, while the employee never saw the hidden instructions.
Key Takeaways
- OpenAI raised $11 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation, falling short of its $30 billion target due to AI market concerns.
- Anthropic's expected IPO valuation dropped from $1.5 trillion to around $1 trillion as investors grow cautious.
- The S&P 500 fell 4.4% on November 5 amid AI panic, with SpaceX shares down 26% over the past month.
- Apple used AI tools in over 80% of its top 100 games by hours engaged, without matching hyperscaler capex spending.
- Salesforce completed eight acquisitions in 2025 and is shifting to outcome-based pricing for AI resolutions.
- Riot Platforms secured a $28 billion lease for the 910 MW Corsicana AI data center campus.
- Nvidia requires GPU monitoring for Southeast Asian cloud partners to address chip smuggling concerns to China.
- Phishing attacks now use prompt injection to target AI email assistants, bypassing human detection.
- Reducto's R1 model cut structured extraction costs in half and is priced at $1 per 1,000 pages.
- Salesforce's Finn AI handles 40% of help site traffic with 65% autonomous resolution in 16 days.
OpenAI raises $11 billion at $1.25 trillion valuation in cautious AI market
OpenAI completed the first tranche of a new funding round, receiving about $11 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation. The round could reach up to $20 billion total, with remaining funds delivered in coming weeks. The company originally planned to raise $30 billion at a $1.4 trillion valuation but lowered its target due to market concerns. Investors including Microsoft, SoftBank, and Sequoia Capital participated. The shift reflects growing worry about AI infrastructure spending and data center risks.
OpenAI secures $11 billion funding at $1.25 trillion valuation
OpenAI secured $11 billion in new funding at a $1.25 trillion valuation, led by Microsoft and other major tech firms. This represents one of the largest funding rounds in tech history. The valuation is a major jump from $100 billion in 2021. The company has been a leader in AI technologies like ChatGPT and DALL-E. The deal terms were not fully disclosed by the company.
Sam Altman's OpenAI raises $11 billion at $1.25 trillion valuation
Sam Altman's OpenAI raised $11 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation, falling short of its original $1.4 trillion goal as AI stocks dropped. The first close was led by Coatue Management and T. Rowe Price, with more funds expected soon. The valuation is still 46.7% higher than the $852 billion mark from March 2026. Investors grew uneasy about AI infrastructure spending, and OpenAI has delayed its IPO to 2027. Rival Anthropic also faces lower valuation expectations.
Researchers set evaluation criteria for AI in carbon accounting
Environmental researchers created a framework to evaluate AI systems used for product carbon footprinting. The framework addresses concerns about AI producing inconsistent results and lacking transparency. It was developed through reviews of ISO standards, input from over sixty professionals, and pilot testing. The criteria ensure AI outputs are reviewable and reliable before being used in public disclosures. This addresses a gap as companies increasingly use AI for carbon accounting tasks.
European social good projects highlight need for machine learning and statistics balance
Researchers Theo Berger and Hannes Scheffler studied 335 European Data Science for Good projects from 2011 to 2024. They found that machine learning alone is not enough to solve social problems and must be paired with traditional statistical methods. The study mapped 146 analytical methods across civic challenges. Projects addressed global issues like humanitarian tracking in Myanmar and deforestation forecasting. The findings highlight a gap in how data science is taught and applied in the social sector.
Salesforce targets fast shipping AI acquisitions
Salesforce EVP John Somorjai said the company will only buy AI that ships fast. He pointed to Finn, which deploys in 16 days and handles over 40% of help site traffic with 65% autonomous resolution. Salesforce is shifting to outcome based pricing for resolutions instead of seats. The company completed eight acquisitions in 2025, its most since 2016, and also closed the Informatica deal in November 2025. Slack revenue has nearly tripled since 2020, helping distribute AI through 15,000 sales reps.
Reducto says PDFs still cause AI agent errors
Reducto CEO Adit Abraham explained that PDFs break AI agents because they preserve print fidelity rather than logic. Reducto processes over a billion pages monthly, with customers including Harvey in legal. Its R1 model handles end to end document processing and cut structured extraction costs in half. Reducto priced R1 mini at $1 per 1,000 pages for structured output. The company grew from one account executive to 30 in sales and has around 40 open roles.
Investors weigh SpaceX and Anthropic amid AI panic
Stock markets saw a major sell off as AI panic struck. The S&P 500 fell 4.4% on November 5, wiping out trillions in market value. SpaceX shares fell 9% that day and are down about 26% over the past month. Anthropic had targeted a November IPO valuation near $1.5 trillion, but some investors now expect around $1 trillion. The company has committed nearly $900 billion to computing and infrastructure while reporting heavy losses. Investors are advised to tread carefully.
Three ways the AI selloff can resolve
The AI trade selloff is driven by macro fears about AI credit risk and data center delays after a Democratic sweep, not deteriorating fundamentals. Demand for compute and AI infrastructure stays strong, with hyperscaler cloud growth accelerating and hardware shortages continuing. The market dislocation has created steep discounts in high quality AI stocks, offering selective buying chances. The author plans to expand positions in top AI names while keeping liquidity. They expect the selloff to resolve in one of three possible ways.
Apple skipped AI capex and succeeded anyway
Apple said in its Q3 2026 shareholder letter that over 80% of its top 100 games by hours engaged used AI tools to speed up creation in the past month. Daily asset uploads tripled month over month. AI-made titles like Break and Steal an Egg broke into the top 20 by concurrent players. While hyperscalers lifted capex 6 to 9 times since 2023, Apple took a different path. The company won anyway by focusing on practical AI use in game development.
Nvidia tightens GPU tracking in Southeast Asia
Nvidia is reportedly requiring GPU monitoring for Southeast Asian cloud partners seeking NCP status. The Fleet Intelligence service tracks GPU inventory, performance, and geolocation data. This move addresses growing concerns about AI chip smuggling to China. Current partners and customers in other regions are not yet affected. Enrollment does not automatically share location data with US regulators.
Phishing attacks now target AI email assistants
Attackers are using prompt injection to target AI assistants that read emails. Hidden instructions in emails can trick assistants into forwarding messages and stealing sensitive data. One attack used a fake recruiting email with hidden commands to spread itself and search for cryptocurrency keys. The assistant was told to forward the email and look for crypto wallet information. The employee never saw the hidden instructions.
Riot Platforms secures $28 billion AI data center lease
Riot Platforms reported third quarter 2026 revenue of US$181.43 million and net income of US$4.03 million. The company disclosed a 15-year, roughly US$28 billion lease for the 910 MW Corsicana AI data center campus with a Frontier AI lab. Contracted data center capacity now reaches 1,151 MW and about US$38 billion in total contracted revenue. Nine-month results show a net loss and higher impairment charges.
Sources
- OpenAI Completes First Tranche of New Funding Round as AI Market Investment Sentiment Turns Cautious
- OpenAI Secures $11B In Funding As Valuation Reaches $1.25T: Report
- American billionaire Sam Altman’s OpenAI raises $11 billion at $1.25 trillion valuation as AI stocks tumble
- Researchers Establish Rigorous Evaluation Criteria for Artificial Intelligence in Carbon Accounting
- European Social Good Projects Reveal Crucial Machine Learning and Statistics Balance
- Salesforce will only buy AI that ships fast
- Reducto says PDFs still break AI agents
- Should investors shun SpaceX stock and the Anthropic IPO as AI panic strikes?
- The AI Selloff Just Got Messy. Here's 3 Ways It Can Resolve
- Apple sat out AI capex and won anyway
- Nvidia Tightens AI Chip Tracking in Southeast Asia as China Smuggling Concerns Grow
- Phishing Has a New Target: The AI Assistant Reading Your Email
- Riot Platforms Stock What A $28 Billion AI Lease Changes
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