OpenAI CFO Recommends Delaying IPO to 2027 Amid Financial Concerns
OpenAI's CFO Sarah Friar suggests postponing the company's IPO to 2027 due to unmet financial reporting standards and slowing growth, while CEO Sam Altman favors a 2026 listing.
OpenAI's Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, has privately recommended delaying the company's initial public offering (IPO) until 2027, citing that the company has not yet met the financial reporting standards required of public companies. This recommendation contrasts with CEO Sam Altman's aim to proceed with the IPO as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.
Recent data indicates a slowdown in OpenAI's growth. ChatGPT's weekly active users increased from 800 million in December 2025 to 900 million in February 2026, falling short of the previously set target of 1 billion. Additionally, the company's annualized revenue is approximately $25 billion, while competitor Anthropic has surpassed $30 billion.
In response to these challenges, OpenAI has adjusted its compute investment plans and is engaged in internal discussions to align future expenditures with revenue generation. Investment banks suggest that the first company to go public may gain a funding advantage in the industry; however, OpenAI has not yet initiated a formal IPO process.