OpenAI’s Sam Altman says it would be ‘ill-advised’ to go public in 2026
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has confirmed that the company will not pursue an IPO in 2026, citing the need to focus on AI safety and business readiness. The company is reportedly shifting its timeline toward 2027 due to market volatility and internal development priorities.
Why it matters
As a leader in the AI sector, OpenAI's financial and public offering strategy significantly influences market expectations and investor sentiment in the tech industry.
While OpenAI has filed confidentially for an IPO , the company will not be going public this year , according to CEO Sam Altman.
Altman was interviewed recently by Fortune editor in chief Alyson Shontell; amidst the fallout from the OpenAI-HuggingFace hack , as well as broader discussions about AI safety , Shontell asked whether OpenAI still feels pressure to “move really fast” due to its IPO plans.
“We’re not rushing into an IPO,” Altman said. “I actually think that given everything happening with safety, right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public.”
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