OpenAI is warning investors that artificial general intelligence, or AGI, could render money obsolete, even as it raises billions in fresh capital at a $300 billion valuation. The contradiction has sparked debate about whether the AI boom is overheating. CEO Sam Altman recently told journalists that the current wave of AI enthusiasm may be unsustainable. “Are we in a phase where investors as a whole are overexcited about AI? My opinion is yes,” he said. He added that the latest models have largely saturated the chat use case and may even decline in performance if pushed further. These remarks followed the underwhelming launch of GPT-5, a model developed over two years with massive investment, which delivered only incremental improvements. Despite these cautionary signals, OpenAI is moving forward with a major funding round led by SoftBank, known for betting big on speculative tech trends. The company is reportedly raising funds at a $300 billion valuation, a staggering figure that underscores continued investor confidence. Meanwhile, current and former employees are cashing out, selling $6 billion worth of stock at a $500 billion valuation. This mass exit has drawn attention from critics who see it as a red flag. “The smartest people at OpenAI are taking $6B off the table. That should tell you everything,” wrote Elena Gold of Red Beard Ventures. The broader tech industry continues to push AI adoption aggressively. Microsoft has declared that using AI is no longer optional for employees. At certain Amazon units, demonstrating AI use is now a requirement for career advancement. A viral meme from inside Google captures the mood: “You know a technology works and is great when you're forced to praise it to maintain your livelihood.” Even as companies push AI into the workplace, evidence of real returns remains scarce. A recent UBS report cited an MIT study showing that 95% of surveyed firms have seen no measurable business impact from their AI investments. OpenAI’s own website reflects the existential tension: it now includes a warning that “it may be difficult to know what role money will play in a post-AGI world.” Yet, the company is simultaneously raising traditional US dollars from major investors, suggesting that even its leaders aren’t betting on a near-term collapse of the financial system. The situation echoes past tech bubbles, with some drawing parallels to the Enron era, when investors trusted promises over performance. Chamath Palihapitiya’s return with a new SPAC, and the surge in special purpose acquisition vehicles, further fuel concerns about froth in Silicon Valley. As OpenAI balances existential warnings with a massive fundraising push, the question remains: are we building the future—or just inflating a bubble?