This is one of the largest private investments in history and makes OpenAI one of the three largest venture-backed startups.

OpenAI has closed a deal to raise $6.6 billion in new funding, valuing the artificial intelligence company at $157 billion and bolstering its efforts to build the world’s leading generative AI technology.

It is one of the largest private investments in history and makes OpenAI one of the three largest venture-backed startups, alongside Elon Musk's SpaceX and TikTok owner ByteDance.

The funding round was led by Thrive Capital, the venture capital firm headed by Josh Kushner, with participation from investors including Khosla Ventures, Altimeter Capital and Fidelity Management & Research Company. Other investors include Microsoft Corp, which has already invested $13 billion in the company, and Nvidia Corp.

Also participating were global investors including SoftBank Group Corp. and Abu Dhabi-based technology investment startup MGX.

Apple did not participate in the deal, although it had previously held talks to invest in the round, Bloomberg reported. The iPhone maker has a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices and through its Siri voice assistant.

As part of that partnership, Apple was in talks to gain an observer role on OpenAI’s board, though those plans were abandoned.