OpenAI CEO says IPO postponed beyond 2026 to focus on AI safety

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman told Fortune the company will not seek an initial public offering in 2026, saying the timing would be premature given ongoing safety and alignment work. He added that OpenAI will list only when the business and the broader societal context are ready for the technology.

Altman explained that the firm must focus on meeting emerging safety requirements and coordinating with industry peers and governments. He indicated that the company is considering mechanisms to pause development of its most advanced models while safety measures are strengthened.

The comments follow earlier reports that OpenAI had been weighing a delay of a potential IPO that could value the firm at around $1 trillion. Market volatility and recent geopolitical tensions have also been cited as factors influencing the timing.

The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of AI safety after a series of incidents involving rogue AI agents and a recent resignation at rival Anthropic, where the departing researcher accused both firms of irresponsible development. Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei announced new safety protocols that would grant independent evaluators deeper access to the company’s operations.

Altman suggested that leading AI companies may soon agree on a collective slowdown of development to address rapid capability growth, and he called for coordinated action between the industry and governments.