Sam Altman rules out OpenAI IPO filing in 2026
The OpenAI chief cited ongoing safety and alignment work, calling the timing of a public listing “ill-advised”.
OpenAI will not file for an initial public offering in 2026, chief executive Sam Altman said in an interview with Fortune, according to Engadget.
Asked whether the company might go public in 2026 or 2027, Altman replied “not 2026”, ruling out a filing this year. He said that, given ongoing safety concerns, it would be “an ill-advised moment to go public”.
The comments contradict an earlier report that OpenAI could file for an IPO as soon as September. Altman’s remarks do not establish whether the company will pursue a listing in 2027 or later.
Altman said OpenAI would focus on AI safety and alignment while continuing to develop improved models and products. The decision comes amid wider concern about the behaviour of AI agents and debate over whether development should slow.
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has called for a comprehensive plan to slow AI development. Fortune has also previously reported that OpenAI and other AI companies may be preparing an industry pact on the pace of development, although no such agreement is confirmed in the source material.
