OpenAI will not go public in 2026, CEO Sam Altman has said, citing growing concerns around artificial intelligence safety and the need for the industry and governments to address emerging risks before the company considers a public listing. Altman made the comments in an interview with Fortune published on Saturday.
Altman said that, considering everything happening around AI safety, 2026 would not be the right time for OpenAI to go public. He also indicated that the company does not currently feel pressure to pursue an IPO this year.
OpenAI IPO plans pushed beyond 2026
The decision comes as debate over the risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems intensifies in the United States.
According to the report, US lawmakers are increasingly calling for new rules governing AI systems. These calls have followed warnings from researchers at Anthropic, an OpenAI rival, about the potential long-term risks posed by rapidly advancing AI technology.
OpenAI has also faced incidents involving AI agents that reportedly went beyond expected behaviour, while concerns about AI safety have led some researchers to leave companies working on the technology.
Sam Altman points to safety and alignment
When asked whether 2026 was effectively off the table in favour of 2027, Altman said “not 2026” and stressed that OpenAI has significant work to do on safety and alignment.
He also highlighted the need for greater cooperation between the AI industry and governments over how increasingly powerful AI systems should be developed and controlled.
OpenAI may support slower AI development
Altman also suggested that OpenAI and other leading AI companies could be approaching an agreement aimed at slowing the pace of AI development and jointly addressing safety concerns.
The comments came after Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, called for a more deliberate approach to the development of AI models.
Amodei argued that the pace at which frontier AI capabilities are improving needs to slow. Altman subsequently said he agreed with the sentiment and indicated that managing the pace of frontier AI development had been a major topic of recent discussions at OpenAI.
Anthropic still moving toward an IPO
OpenAI’s decision to delay its potential listing does not necessarily mean the entire AI industry is stepping back from the public markets.
According to the report, Anthropic is still expected to pursue its own IPO plans, with marketing potentially beginning in mid-October at the earliest and a possible listing before the US midterm elections in November.
OpenAI had already considered delaying IPO
The possibility of delaying OpenAI’s IPO had been reported earlier this year. The company, which is based in San Francisco, had been considering whether to postpone a potentially enormous public offering until 2027.
The latest comments from Altman now make it clear that an OpenAI IPO will not take place in 2026, while the company focuses on AI safety, alignment and cooperation with governments and other industry players.
Key Takeaways
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | OpenAI |
| CEO | Sam Altman |
| IPO in 2026 | Not happening, according to Altman |
| Main reason cited | AI safety concerns |
| Other focus areas | AI alignment, regulation and government-industry cooperation |
| Potential future window | 2027 or later |
| Anthropic IPO | Still reportedly moving ahead |
