OpenAI will not be going public in 2026, according to CEO Sam Altman. The company has confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO), but Altman stated that it would be "ill-advised" to go public this year.
Altman, speaking to Fortune editor in chief Alyson Shontell, explained that the decision is influenced by ongoing discussions about AI safety. He indicated that OpenAI will go public "when we're ready," considering both the business's readiness and the societal context of the technology.
When pressed on the 2026 timeline, Altman confirmed, "I would say not 2026, yeah. We've got a lot of stuff to do." Reports in June from The New York Times had suggested OpenAI was leaning towards a 2027 IPO, citing volatile tech stocks and the company's own financial challenges, despite having hired bankers and lawyers with a 2026 goal.