A business user works with ChatGPT Pro as OpenAI reports 700 million weekly users and 5 million paying business subscribers—backed by $8.3 billion in fresh capital to expand its AI platform globally. Image Source: ChatGPT-4o
OpenAI Hits 700M Weekly Users, Raises $8.3B to Expand ChatGPT
Key Takeaways:
OpenAI says ChatGPT is on track to reach 700 million weekly active users, up from 500 million in March.
The company has raised $8.3 billion in new capital as part of a $40 billion fundraising effort, led by Dragoneer Investment Group.
Annual recurring revenue (ARR) has climbed to $13 billion, with projections of $20 billion by year-end.
5 million paid ChatGPT business users now subscribe to the platform, up from 3 million in June.
ChatGPT users average 16 minutes per day in the app and use it over 12 days a month, according to Sensor Tower.
OpenAI Scales User Growth and Capital Together
OpenAI says ChatGPT is now on track to hit 700 million weekly active users, marking a new high in the chatbot’s explosive growth since its launch less than two years ago.
The milestone was shared by Nick Turley, OpenAI’s VP and head of ChatGPT’s app, who noted that usage has grown 4x year-over-year. “Every day, people and teams are learning, creating, and solving harder problems,” he posted.
The surge comes just months after OpenAI crossed 500 million weekly active users in March, and follows new product features such as image generation via GPT-4, which helped drive engagement. In April, the company said users created 700 million images within days of that feature’s release.
Meanwhile, enterprise adoption is accelerating. OpenAI now has 5 million paying business users, up from 3 million in June, according to COO Brad Lightcap.
$8.3 Billion Raise Underscores Business Momentum
To fuel its expansion, OpenAI has raised $8.3 billion in new capital as part of a larger $40 billion fundraising initiative, a person familiar with the deal said. The round was led by Dragoneer Investment Group, which contributed $2.8 billion. It was reportedly five times oversubscribed and closed ahead of schedule.
Other investors in the round include Blackstone, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, TPG, T. Rowe Price, Fidelity, Founders Fund, Coatue, Altimeter, D1 Capital, Tiger Global, and Thrive Capital. SoftBank remains the anchor investor for the broader fundraise.
The company’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) is now at $13 billion, up from $10 billion in June, with expectations to exceed $20 billion by the end of the year.
App Usage Rivals Tech Giants
According to Sensor Tower, ChatGPT users spend an average of 16 minutes per day in the app and use it on more than 12 days per month—making it one of the most actively used consumer tools after Google and X (formerly Twitter).
This level of stickiness places ChatGPT in the top tier of global consumer software, even as OpenAI continues to expand its enterprise footprint.
Competitive Landscape and Global Expansion
The raise also places OpenAI ahead in the escalating funding race among top AI model developers. Rival Anthropic is in talks to raise $3 billion to $5 billion, at a potential $170 billion valuation, with continued interest from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds.
OpenAI is already working with Emirati firm G42 to build a major data center in Abu Dhabi, signaling its intent to scale infrastructure alongside its model development and user base.
Q&A: OpenAI’s Growth and Funding
Q: How many people use ChatGPT each week?
A: 700 million weekly active users, up from 500 million in March, according to OpenAI.
Q: How much funding did OpenAI raise?
A: $8.3 billion as part of a $40 billion fundraising round, led by Dragoneer Investment Group.
Q: What is OpenAI’s current revenue?
A: $13 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with expectations to hit $20 billion by the end of 2025.
Q: How many paid business users does ChatGPT have?
A: 5 million, up from 3 million just months ago.
Q: How much time are users spending in ChatGPT?
A: Users average 16 minutes per day and use the app on 12+ days per month, according to Sensor Tower.
What This Means
OpenAI has crossed into a new tier of influence—one defined not just by innovation, but by distribution, monetization, and institutional trust. With hundreds of millions of weekly users and billions in recurring revenue, the company now sits at the intersection of consumer tech, enterprise software, and infrastructure-scale AI.
The $8.3 billion raise gives OpenAI the resources to continue training frontier models, expand global data centers, and deepen business adoption—all while maintaining its lead in one of the most competitive markets in tech history.
The company has transitioned from research pioneer to infrastructure-grade product company—and in doing so, shows that ChatGPT isn’t just the most widely used AI tool—it’s now one of the most influential platforms in tech.
Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.