OpenAI rules out 2026 IPO as Sam Altman flags AI safety risks

<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/09/04/openai-unveils-worlds-most-intelligent-model-astra-with-cyber-security-in-focus/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/09/04/openai-unveils-worlds-most-intelligent-model-astra-with-cyber-security-in-focus/">OpenAI</a> will not pursue an initial public offering this year as chief executive <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/05/18/openai-and-sam-altman-have-major-win-against-elon-musk-in-closely-watched-trial/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/05/18/openai-and-sam-altman-have-major-win-against-elon-musk-in-closely-watched-trial/">Sam Altman</a> says the company is prioritising artificial intelligence safety and alignment work over a potential listing. “It would be an ill-advised moment to go public”, given the safety challenges facing AI, Mr Altman told business magazine <i>Fortune</i>, adding that OpenAI does not feel pressure to list in 2026. The comments come as governments and legislators face growing pressure to impose safeguards on rapidly advancing AI systems, after warnings from researchers about the potential risks posed by increasingly capable models. Mr Altman said even a relatively small chance of AI causing <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/09/10/anthropic-report-biological-weapons-ai/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/09/10/anthropic-report-biological-weapons-ai/">human extinction</a> would be unacceptable, although he questioned how such a probability could be calculated.