How OpenAI uses complex and circular deals to fuel its multibillion-dollar rise

Real question -- how else is OpenAI supposed to fund itself? It has capital requirements that the most moneyed business companies can't provide. So it has to come up with ways to get access to money while de-risking the terms. Not saying the circularity works but I don't know how else you raise at their scale.

This money is well beyond VC capability.

Either this lets them build to net positive without dying from painful financing terms or they explode spectacularly. Their rate of adoption it seems to be the former.

If you can only continue to fund a venture using scam-like structures, then maybe it's time to re-evaluate what the goals and value prop of the unfundable venture is.

They could try selling their services above cost.

It's highway robbery how cheap tokens are right now. Enjoy the free lunch while it lasts

I don't think you understand how ventures are funded.

Exactly - its like every VC company in the history of VC subsidized costs for growth. Once those tentacles have latched beware the exit costs though!

The tentacles seem a bit limp and disorientated on this one. There are lots of them but they just seem to flop wetly against the windows. I hope they're not going to start decomposing and stink the place up.

Maybe, or maybe you think all venture funding schemes are scams. I am not totally there just yet.