CNBC reports that investors have approached OpenAI about a new funding round at a valuation of roughly $1.2 trillion. According to CNBC, no formal discussions are underway, and some investors pitched the round partly as a way for employees to sell shares, following a secondary sale of about $7 billion in August. The figure would sit around 41% above the $852 billion valuation OpenAI reached when it closed a round in March. Forbes and The Next Web add that OpenAI itself believes it is worth at least $1.5 trillion, and that the company is weighing one more private round before a stock market listing. Sam Altman has ruled out an IPO this year, and CFO Sarah Friar told staff in August the company would be public in 2027.