OpenAI is an artificial intelligence (AI) organization seeking to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI). Few companies have taken the world by storm quite like OpenAI. The company's ChatGPT chatbot has become a viral sensation. It had amassed more than 500 million weekly users by mid-2025.
You can't invest directly in OpenAI -- at least, not right now. However, there are several ways to invest indirectly in the ChatGPT creator. You can also invest in companies that stand to benefit from the explosion in artificial intelligence (AI) that OpenAI has helped ignite.
In this article, we'll explain all you need to know about investing in OpenAI.
Artificial Intelligence
How to invest in OpenAI
The simple answer to how to buy OpenAI stock is that most investors can't do so right now. Accredited investors can sometimes buy shares on a secondary online marketplace, like EquityBee and Hiive. However, non-accredited investors can't invest directly in the company, and there's no timeline for when you might be able to do so.
There are a couple of alternatives to directly investing in OpenAI while it remains private.
Non-accredited investors can consider buying shares of a public venture capital fund, like the Fundrise Innovation Fund. That fund offers anyone the opportunity to invest in some of the top public companies (including OpenAI) at a low minimum investment (just $10) and low fees.
Meanwhile, the next best thing is to buy the stocks of other publicly traded companies investing in OpenAI or benefiting from its growth. Here are three stocks you can buy to indirectly invest in the ChatGPT developer's growth.
1. Microsoft
NASDAQ: MSFT
Key Data Points
The best way to invest in OpenAI is to buy shares of Microsoft. The technology giant originally invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019. It also teamed up with OpenAI to develop new AI supercomputing technologies for its Azure cloud platform. OpenAI moved its services to the Azure platform as part of the agreement. Microsoft also became OpenAI's preferred partner for marketing new AI technologies.
In 2021, Microsoft upped its investment in OpenAI. Then came the firestorm created by the launch of the AI chatbot ChatGPT in late 2022. Microsoft quickly realized the opportunity. In January 2023, the company confirmed that it extended its partnership with OpenAI into a third phase. A key component of the expanded collaboration was that Microsoft Azure would become OpenAI's exclusive cloud provider.
Microsoft didn't reveal exactly how much additional money it invested in OpenAI in its third round of funding. However, several reports indicated that Microsoft poured another $10 billion into OpenAI. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft reportedly will receive 75% of OpenAI's profits until it recovers its full investment. After that point, Microsoft would own a 49% stake in the smaller AI developer.
In 2023, Microsoft aggressively integrated OpenAI's technology into its applications. Microsoft's Bing search engine uses GPT-4, the most advanced AI large language model (LLM) released by OpenAI so far.
Microsoft also introduced OpenAI technology into its Microsoft 365 productivity apps. The new feature, Microsoft 365 Copilot, helps users generate first drafts of documents in Microsoft Word and new presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint.
Copilot enables users to quickly analyze trends in Microsoft Excel and easily create high-quality data visualizations. It summarizes email threads and suggests replies to emails in Outlook. It summarizes discussion points in the Microsoft Teams business communications platform and recommends action items.
Of course, besides its ties with OpenAI, there are other reasons to consider investing in Microsoft stock. The company ranks as a leader in several hot technology areas beyond AI, notably cloud services, gaming, and quantum computing.
2. Meta Platforms
NASDAQ: META
Key Data Points
Generative AI
3. Nvidia
NASDAQ: NVDA
Key Data Points
Is OpenAI profitable?
OpenAI doesn't release its financial statements, so we don't have access to details about OpenAI's earnings. However, The New York Times reported in late 2024 that the company wasn't profitable and was instead "burning through piles of money."
However, while OpenAI isn't yet profitable, it's growing its revenue briskly. The company's annualized revenue run rate hit $10 billion in June 2025, almost double from its December 2024 rate of $5.5 billion.
Meanwhile, the company isn't having any trouble raising the capital needed to fund its operations and expansion. Investors poured another $40 billion into OpenAI in early 2025, giving it fresh cash to build towards AGI.
Given the company's massive investments, it likely won't reach profitability for a while. That's something investors will need to keep an eye on before buying shares should OpenAI decide to complete an IPO.
Machine Learning
Related investing topics
The bottom line on OpenAI
OpenAI definitely stands out as one of the leaders in generative AI. ChatGPT isn't likely to be a temporary fad. The power of OpenAI's technology could help usher in a new era where AI plays a much greater role in almost every aspect of society. Although you can't invest directly in OpenAI, you can buy the stocks of companies that stand to profit from its advances in AI.
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