OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, stated that going public in 2026 would be ill-advised, emphasizing the company’s focus on AI safety and readiness. Altman said the company has filed confidentially for an IPO but will not be going public this year.
Altman explained that OpenAI is not rushing into an IPO, noting that the current environment for AI safety makes a public offering an unwise move. He insisted that the company will go public only when it feels ready, both financially and socially.
The New York Times reported in June that OpenAI had hired bankers and lawyers with the goal of going public in the third or fourth quarter of 2026, but the company is leaning toward 2027 due to tech stock volatility and financial challenges.
"I would say not 2026, yeah. We’ve got a lot of stuff to do," Altman said during an interview with Fortune editor in chief Alyson Shontell. He added that OpenAI is focused on addressing AI safety concerns before considering an IPO.
The announcement follows the fallout from the OpenAI-HuggingFace hack and broader discussions about AI safety. Altman’s comments reflect the company’s cautious approach to public listing amid ongoing regulatory and ethical scrutiny.
OpenAI did not say when it will go public, and the company remains focused on its long-term goals. Altman emphasized that the timing of an IPO will depend on both internal readiness and the societal context of AI development.
Source: techcrunch
