OpenAI CEO says IPO unlikely in 2026, cites safety concerns
Sam Altman told Fortune that OpenAI will not pursue an initial public offering in 2026, emphasizing the need to prioritize safety and development work.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman told Fortune that the company does not plan to go public in 2026, describing the timing as unsuitable given ongoing safety work. He said the firm will wait until it feels ready, adding that there is no external pressure to rush an IPO.
During the 45-minute interview, Altman also addressed topics such as a recent security breach at Hugging Face, the concept of recursive self-improvement, and the theoretical possibility of creating an AI system beyond human control. He acknowledged that such an outcome is "absolutely" possible but said OpenAI would take steps, including pausing training, to prevent it.
"We’re not rushing into an IPO. I actually think that, given everything happening with safety, this would be, right now, an ill-advised moment to go public. And we don’t feel pressure on that. We’ve said for a long time, we’ll do it when we’re ready… I would say not 2026. We’ve got a lot of stuff to do."
Altman emphasized that the company’s priority remains addressing risks that could affect humanity, rather than pursuing a public listing.