OpenAI has secured a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank, valuing the company at $300 billion. This marks the largest financing round ever, nearly doubling its previous valuation and comes amid the hype around its Ghibli pictures rollout.

The AI developer’s financing round is the largest of all time, according to data compiled by research firm PitchBook.

A second tranche of $30 billion is expected to be invested in OpenAI by the end of 2025, comprising $22.5 billion from SoftBank and $7.5 billion from a syndicate of investors, said a report.

OpenAI is expanding chief operating officer Brad Lightcap's role to oversee the company's day-to-day operations.

The AI developer’s financing round is the largest of all time, according to data compiled by research firm PitchBook. The deal values the company at almost double its previous valuation of $157 billion when it raised money in October. Bloomberg reported on March 26 that OpenAI was close to buttoning up the $40 billion financing deal.

ChatGPT users get connectivity to "internal knowledge" sources - kicking off with Google Drive but Teams incoming too

OpenAI has raised $40bn in new funding from SoftBank and other investors, valuing the ChatGPT maker at $300bn as it becomes one of the best-funded private start-ups in the world. SoftBank was providing 75 per cent of the funding,

CNBC's Kate Rooney joins 'Squawk Box' with the latest news from OpenAI.