- SoftBank has reportedly reduced plans for a margin loan tied to its OpenAI stake from $10 billion to as low as $6 billion.
- Both OpenAI and rival Anthropic are planning initial public offerings for later this year amid intense competition.
- Investor unease follows reports that OpenAI missed several internal sales targets earlier in 2026.
- Retail investors are gaining exposure to pre-IPO AI companies through funds like ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK).
The Artificial Intelligence race is heating up as giants OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for head-to-head initial public offerings later this year, according to a report on Friday. This high-stakes duel unfolds as OpenAI faces significant headwinds, with a major investor now scaling back financial plans.
SoftBank Group has reportedly downsized its plan for a $10 billion margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake, Bloomberg reported, citing lender hesitation. The Japanese conglomerate is now targeting an amount as low as $6 billion after creditors expressed concerns about valuing the private company.
Consequently, this development marks another setback for OpenAI following reports it missed several monthly sales targets earlier in 2026. That earlier news pressured shares of several OpenAI-linked companies, including Oracle and CoreWeave.
Meanwhile, Anthropic more than doubled its annual revenue run-rate to $30 billion and is reportedly in talks for fresh funding. A potential deal could value Anthropic at over $1 trillion, surpassing OpenAI‘s $852 billion valuation from March.
Internal tensions also surfaced as OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar “internally warned that the company’s IPO timeline may be too aggressive”. Her caution reportedly puts her at odds with CEO Sam Altman, who is pushing for a fourth-quarter listing.
Retail interest in these pre-IPO giants is building through specialized funds. Last month, Ark Invest disclosed it picked up a $240 million stake in OpenAI through its funds ARKK, ARKF, and ARKW.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
