Alibaba-backed Moonshot AI reaches $4.8B valuation after latest funding round

Analysts suggest future rounds could push its valuations even higher, driven by China’s booming AI sector and limited access to US AI platforms.

Alibaba-backed AI startup Moonshot AI has seen its valuation rise to $4.8 billion, sources told CNBC, marking a $500 million increase from last month.

The surge follows strong market performance from rival Chinese AI firms Zhipu and MiniMax, which recently went public in Hong Kong.

Moonshot, known for its Kimi chatbot, has attracted heightened investor interest, and sources indicated the ongoing funding round could close soon.

The company’s valuation may rise further in future rounds amid growing demand for Chinese AI ventures, especially as US chatbots like ChatGPT remain largely unavailable in mainland China.

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