Although OpenAI has submitted confidential paperwork for an IPO, the artificial intelligence firm will not be going public this year, according to CEO Sam Altman.
During a recent sit-down with Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell—held amidst repercussions from the OpenAI-HuggingFace security breach and broader debates on AI safety—Altman was asked if the company’s IPO plans are driving pressure to “move really fast.”
“We’re not rushing toward an IPO,” Altman stated. “Given the current landscape around safety, I actually believe right now would be an unwise time to go public.”
He emphasized that OpenAI will only list shares “when we’re ready—meaning when the business itself is prepared, and when society’s relationship with this technology makes sense for that step.” Asked point-blank if this rules out an IPO in 2026, Altman confirmed, “Yeah, I’d say not 2026. We still have a lot to accomplish.”
A June report from The New York Times noted that while OpenAI had engaged investment bankers and attorneys to target a public debut in late 2026, market fluctuations among tech stocks and the firm’s ongoing financial obligations were pushing expectations back to 2027.
