Part 7/14:

The Broader AI Industry Landscape: Other US and Chinese Labs

OpenAI's evolution isn’t an isolated story. Similar patterns are evident in other AI ventures. Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI team members, received early funding from the notorious Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX, which invested $500 million in 2022. Despite FTX’s subsequent collapse, their stake was sold at an $884 million valuation—around a 76% return. Had FTX held onto their investment, it could have ballooned to nearly $15 billion, exemplifying how valuation jumps are fueled by funding rounds, often disconnected from actual profitability.