The AI Podcast — "OpenAI's $100 Billion Funding + Sam Altman Refuses to Hold Dario’s Hand..."
Host: Jaden Schaefer
Date: February 20, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives into two headline-making stories from the AI world:
- OpenAI's record-setting $100 billion fundraising round, which will value the company at an astronomical $850 billion, and what this means for the AI industry.
- The ongoing rivalry and awkward public moments between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, illustrated by their notable standoff at the India AI Impact Summit.
- Additional insights include OpenAI’s user analytics in India, recent monetization moves (including introducing ads in ChatGPT), and the broader implications for competition and global expansion among AI giants.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. OpenAI’s Historic $100B Funding Round
[01:32 – 06:00]
- Jaden breaks the news of OpenAI nearing completion on one of the largest private fundraising rounds in tech history.
- Reported $100 billion round, projected at an $850 billion valuation.
- “This is absolutely astronomical... all of these numbers are going to top some of the earlier people thought it was going to be about $830 billion. Now it's going to be 850.” — Jaden [02:00]
- Strong investor demand signals that the so-called "AI bubble" isn’t bursting soon, despite rising costs and competition.
- Noted pre-money valuation of $730 billion.
- Major investors: Amazon ($50B), SoftBank ($30B), Nvidia (up to $20B), Microsoft (exact amount not disclosed), alongside sovereign wealth funds and VCs.
- Possibility of additional tranches that could swell the round’s final total.
- “These companies just keep raising more and more money. There's a lot of demand for this. The costs are rising... but as Bloomberg says, OpenAI's pre-money valuation is still going to be about $730 billion.” — Jaden [02:34]
2. Monetization & Ads in ChatGPT
[06:20 – 09:34]
- OpenAI is experimenting with ads in ChatGPT to bolster revenue; this move comes as the company burns through extraordinary amounts of cash to fund growth and R&D.
- “They’ve started testing ads inside of ChatGPT for the free tier... might unlock even more revenue streams, but also risks a bit of user backlash if they don’t execute this correctly.” — Jaden [07:00]
- User pushback noted online; some surprise as the $8/month tier includes ads, while the $20/month tier remains ad-free.
- “Ads on [the $8 tier] just felt... it feels bad to pay $8.” — Jaden [08:15]
- Suggestion: Rate-limit features rather than introduce ads to lower pricing tiers.
3. OpenAI & Anthropic Rivalry: Summit Showdown in India
[09:50 – 12:30]
- At the India AI Impact Summit, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei were presented with an awkward moment:
- During a group photo, India’s Prime Minister invited all leaders to join hands as a gesture of unity. Altman and Amodei, standing side by side, raised their hands — but conspicuously did not hold hands.
- “Everyone else was holding hands. They were not. I think for a lot of people they're like, okay, this rivalry is definitely visible. These are not friends. Which is kind of funny because you'd think in front of like the president of a country...” — Jaden [10:55]
- The moment capped months of public feuding, including:
- Anthropic’s Super Bowl ads targeting OpenAI.
- OpenAI’s counter-criticisms; Altman labeling Anthropic as “AI for rich people” and championing OpenAI as “AI for the whole world.”
- “I can’t get this quote out of my head. He’s like, Anthropic makes AI for rich people. We make AI for like the whole world.” — Jaden [11:55]
- Broader context: Both companies rapidly expanding operations in India, underscoring the competitive landscape.
4. OpenAI & Anthropic: Expansion and India Strategy
[12:40 – 17:10]
- Both OpenAI and Anthropic are racing to build their presence in India — currently one of the world’s fastest-growing AI markets.
- OpenAI’s plans:
- New offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
- Partnership with Tata Group for 100MW of compute capacity (i.e., data centers).
- Distributing ChatGPT Enterprise via Tata Consulting Services.
- Anthropic:
- New offices, partnership with Infosys for broader deployment.
- OpenAI’s plans:
- OpenAI’s user base data in India:
- India is now OpenAI’s second-largest market, with 100M+ weekly users.
- “They said 80% [of users] come from users under 30... so basically anyone in India under 30, that’s 80% of ChatGPT’s usage over there.” — Jaden [15:00]
- 35% of Indian messages are work-related (higher than global average); coding is a top use case.
- Codex (OpenAI’s coding assistant) is used 3x more frequently in India than global average; usage quadrupled after recent Mac app launch.
- OpenAI introduced a sub–₹5 (under $5) per month subscription tier for India, reflecting regional pricing strategies to boost adoption.
5. Monetization, Partnerships, and AI Adoption in India
[17:12 – 21:00]
- OpenAI’s tailored push includes specific ad campaigns, strategic partnerships (Pine Labs, Ixigo, MakeMyTrip, and edtech initiatives), and plans to reach 100,000 students over six years.
- These expansion moves are seen as preparation for an eventual IPO.
- “They’re putting a lot of energy and effort into expansion... really making a big push right now. We know they may do an IPO very soon...” — Jaden [18:40]
6. Industry Landscape and Infrastructure Costs
[21:02 – 24:10]
- AI infrastructure costs are “absolutely exploding,” pushing all players to lock in funding and global presence.
- Anthropic and Google Gemini noted as significant, fast-moving competitors.
- OpenAI is positioning itself not merely as a model developer but as a global AI platform, showing investors it has capital to match its ambition.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “These companies just keep raising more and more money. There's a lot of demand for this.” — Jaden [02:34]
- “Ads on [the $8 tier] just felt... it feels bad to pay $8.” — Jaden [08:15]
- “Everyone else was holding hands. They were not. I think for a lot of people they're like, okay, this rivalry is definitely visible.” — Jaden [10:55]
- “Anthropic makes AI for rich people. We make AI for like the whole world.” — Attributed to Sam Altman, quoted by Jaden [11:55]
- “India is their second largest market. They have more than 100 million weekly users... 80% come from users under 30.” — Jaden [15:00]
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | | --------- | ------- | | 01:32 | $100B OpenAI funding round revealed | | 04:15 | Breakdown of major investors (Amazon, SoftBank, Nvidia, Microsoft) | | 06:20 | Monetization strategies: ads in ChatGPT | | 09:50 | India AI Impact Summit – Altman/Amodei handshake moment | | 12:40 | Detailed look at OpenAI and Anthropic’s India expansion | | 15:00 | Demographics and usage analytics for OpenAI in India | | 18:40 | Partnerships and preparation for IPO | | 21:02 | Global strategy, infrastructure costs, and AI competition landscape |
Summary Table: OpenAI’s Growth and Competition in 2026
| Area | Highlights | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Fundraising | $100B round, $850B valuation; record-setting investor appetite | | Major Investors | Amazon, SoftBank, Nvidia, Microsoft, sovereign wealth funds | | India Expansion | New offices, local partnerships (Tata), $5/mo. tier, 100M+ users | | Anthropic Rivalry | Public sparring, “AI for rich people” label, awkward summit photo | | Monetization | Ads in ChatGPT (free & $8/mo tiers), strategic push for recurring revenue| | Key Markets | India: Young, tech-driven user base, heavy use for work/coding | | Industry Competition | Competition rising (Anthropic, Google Gemini); surging infra costs | | IPO Horizon | Prepping for likely IPO, maximizing footprint and growth |
Closing Tone
The episode is fast-paced, sharp, and often colored by Jaden’s humorous, slightly irreverent commentary on the personalities and ambitions shaping the AI sector. The rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic provides a human touch to the tech and business developments, revealing the high-stakes drama playing out behind the industry’s headlines.