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According to multiple sources (including The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg), Apple (AAPL), NVIDIA (NVDA), and Microsoft (MSFT) are in discussions to participate in a new funding round (led by Thrive Capital) that would value OpenAI at over $100 billion. The exact amounts that Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft might invest have not yet been reported.

For Microsoft, this is just doubling down. For NVIDIA, it’s strategic. If Apple goes long on OpenAI, it will be a shift in its “let us use your LLMs for free” strategy. Not to read too much into the rumor, but with Apple behind them, OpenAI’s future looks much brighter.

Now, for students of history, TiVo’s journey from world-changing consumer tech to a generic term for DVRs happened so quickly that you’re going to have to try hard to remember the story. To stay in business long enough to profit from the fact that every chat interface is colloquially called “ChatGPT,” OpenAI needs a ton of cash and some solid strategic partners. This deal could bring both.

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