Stripe Buys AI Startup OpenRouter For $7.5 Billion

Stripe is acquiring AI model marketplace OpenRouter in a deal reportedly valued at $7.5 billion, with $1.5 billion allocated to the founders. This move expands Stripe beyond payments into AI application infrastructure. OpenRouter is popular among developers for providing access to cost-efficient, non-proprietary, and open-weight AI models, including those from Chinese labs like DeepSeek and Z.ai. While The New York Times reports the $7.5 billion figure, other sources like Axios suggest the value may be higher.