TLDRs;
- Nvidia stock dips modestly as $20B OpenAI investment nears finalization.
- OpenAI eyes $100B funding round, with Amazon and SoftBank potential contributors.
- Deal could attract regulatory scrutiny over Nvidia’s AI chip market dominance.
- Investment reflects strategic collaboration, despite reported tensions between Nvidia and OpenAI.
Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) slipped slightly in early trading, even as reports surfaced that the tech giant is close to finalizing a $20 billion investment in OpenAI. While the stock’s small decline may seem at odds with the high-profile funding move, analysts note that investors are weighing both the deal’s potential upside and the regulatory and competitive questions it raises.
The prospective investment is part of OpenAI’s ambitious plan to raise up to $100 billion, with other possible contributions from major tech players including Amazon and SoftBank, which have reportedly discussed commitments of up to $50 billion and $30 billion, respectively. Despite the scale, the terms of Nvidia’s participation are still under negotiation, and the agreement is not yet finalized.
Scaling Back from a $100 Billion Plan
Nvidia’s potential $20 billion stake represents a significant reduction from an earlier, more ambitious proposal in which the company discussed investing up to $100 billion in OpenAI’s AI infrastructure buildout. Sources say the larger figure was never a firm commitment and slowed after internal concerns at Nvidia about the size of the project and questions regarding OpenAI’s business practices.
Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, has emphasized that any investment will be evaluated in stages, “one step at a time,” signaling a cautious approach. This phased strategy highlights Nvidia’s interest in supporting AI development while managing risk.
Regulatory and Market Implications
Experts note that the deal could draw increased scrutiny from regulators. Nvidia provides critical hardware for AI research, and its GPUs are widely used to train and deploy AI models. The funding arrangement has raised discussions about “circular” investments, where a supplier invests in companies that, in turn, purchase its products.
Supporters argue this stabilizes GPU demand, but critics worry it could entrench Nvidia’s dominant position in the AI chip market, which analysts estimate ranges between 70% and 95%.
The Department of Justice has previously investigated Nvidia for potential antitrust concerns, and a high-profile partnership with OpenAI may reignite debate about whether equity stakes are being used to secure long-term market control.
Collaboration Amid Tensions
Despite past reports of friction between Nvidia and OpenAI, both companies have publicly affirmed their commitment to cooperation. Huang has described the funding round as potentially Nvidia’s largest-ever investment, underscoring the strategic importance of the relationship.
For OpenAI, the influx of capital would help accelerate AI research and product development, while Nvidia could benefit from closer ties to one of the industry’s leading AI firms.
Nvidia $NVDA is nearing a deal to invest $20 billion in OpenAI as part of its latest funding round – Bloomberg pic.twitter.com/2wnOvjFbNW
— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) February 3, 2026
Market watchers are closely monitoring the stock and the ongoing negotiations. While Nvidia’s shares have dipped slightly, many investors view the potential partnership as a long-term positive, reflecting confidence in AI growth and the company’s central role in the sector.
As discussions progress, Nvidia and OpenAI are expected to navigate both commercial opportunities and regulatory hurdles carefully, with the broader AI industry watching closely to see how this high-stakes collaboration unfolds.
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