OpenAI projects $280bn cumulative cash burn by 2030 on AI infrastructure buildout

OpenAI's internal projections show cumulative negative cash flow of $280bn by 2030, driven by heavy infrastructure investment and competitive price pressures. The figures, reported by the FT, underscore the capital intensity of frontier AI and raise questions about the sustainability of the current business model. The scale of the burn is a notable escalation from prior expectations, signaling that the AI capex cycle may be longer and more costly than markets have priced.