OPENAI RAISES $122 BILLION, SHUTS DOWN SORA, DERAILS DISNEY DEAL

The funding round is the largest in AI history. OpenAI stated the capital will “accelerate the next phase of AI” and position the company as “core infrastructure for AI.” The valuation reflects investor confidence that OpenAI will remain central to the AI ecosystem despite intensifying competition.

But the same day brought disaster: OpenAI halted Sora amid concerns over content moderation and copyright. The shutdown reportedly derailed a $1 billion Disney partnership that was weeks from announcement. The entertainment giant had planned to use Sora for content generation.

Also on March 31:

• Microsoft announced Copilot revamp integrating Anthropic’s Claude (Fortune)
• Claude source code leaked, revealing a Tamagotchi-style “pet” feature and always-on agent capabilities (The Verge)

The day captures the AI industry in microcosm: massive investment alongside serious growing pains. OpenAI secured unprecedented funding while simultaneously canceling a major product and partnership.

Sources:

• OpenAI: $122 billion announcement
• OpenTools: Sora shutdown, Disney partnership
• Fortune: Microsoft Copilot Anthropic integration
• The Verge: Claude Code leak