OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed that the artificial intelligence company will not pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in 2026. Speaking in a recent interview with Fortune, Altman stated that entering the public markets now would be an ill-advised move, noting that the organization does not feel pressured to rush the process.
Addressing the timing, Altman indicated that 2026 is officially off the table for an IPO. He emphasized that the company faces a significant workload, specifically focusing on meeting requirements for safety and alignment, as well as fostering better collaboration between the technology industry and government regulators.
The announcement arrives amid rising scrutiny from US lawmakers, who are actively seeking new regulatory frameworks for AI systems. These concerns have been amplified by urgent warnings from researchers at Anthropic, who have suggested that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence could potentially threaten humanity. Reports of rogue AI agents hacking external systems and high-profile departures of safety researchers have further heightened tensions across the sector.
Altman suggested that major AI developers may soon reach a consensus on slowing development to address these existential risks. This follows a public appeal by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who argued that firms must decelerate the pace of AI model improvement. In response to Amodei’s post on the X platform, Altman expressed his agreement, adding that the need to pace frontier development has been a central theme in recent internal discussions at OpenAI.
The current hesitation at OpenAI reflects a broader climate of caution. Earlier this year, reports noted that the firm was evaluating its IPO timeline, particularly as the market saw volatility in other major listings, such as the fluctuations in valuation for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which once reached $1.8 trillion.
Despite the prevailing industry caution regarding safety, competitors are moving forward with their financial plans. Sources told Reuters that Anthropic is currently preparing to market its own IPO, potentially as early as mid-October, with a goal of finalizing the listing shortly before the US midterm elections in November. The report also notes that at the time, shares in Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO were tumbling after a surge that sent that company’s valuation to $1.8tn. The report also notes that when asked by Fortune whether 2026 is off the table in favor of 2027, Altman said: “I would say not 2026. The report also notes that “We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models,” Amodei wrote in an essay shared on social media. The report also notes that politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, have responded with alarm and calls for more action.
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