Kuaishou's Keling AI is about to complete a $3 billion financing, with a Middle Eastern fund possibly leading the investment

According to reports from Bianews, Kuaishou's "Keling AI" is about to complete a round of independent financing exceeding $3 billion, with a post-investment valuation reaching $18 billion.

It is reported that the leading investor in this round may be a fund with a Middle Eastern background, and well-known institutions such as Tencent, Alibaba, General Atlantic, and Sequoia are also on the potential investor list. Keling AI plans to complete restructuring and share reform by 2026 and is expected to formally submit its IPO application in early 2027. It is worth noting that the $18 billion valuation is based on a "revaluation" by the market. Kuaishou's initial psychological expectation was $20 billion, which was later adjusted down due to feedback from the capital market. Nevertheless, this remains the largest financing in the global AI video generation sector in 2026.

Public financial reports show that Keling's revenue last year was approximately 1.04 billion yuan, accounting for only 0.73% of Kuaishou's total revenue. However, entering this year, its commercialization pace has accelerated significantly: in the first quarter, revenue surged past 650 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 300%; as of March this year, its annual recurring revenue (ARR) has reached $500 million. During the same period, Keling's global user base surpassed 60 million, generating over 600 million videos, and providing API services to more than 30,000 enterprises and developers. Based on the $18 billion valuation and $500 million ARR, Keling AI's current price-to-ARR ratio is approximately 36 times.