OpenAI IPO pushed to 2027 or later as safety concerns delay debut

OpenAI will not pursue an initial public offering in 2026, CEO Sam Altman confirmed in an interview with Fortune last week, marking the first on-the-record statement ruling out a near-term market debut for one of the world's most closely watched private companies.

"I actually think that, given everything happening with safety, right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public, and we don't feel pressure on that," Altman told Fortune Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell on September 13. When pressed on timing, he added: "I would say not 2026. Yeah, we got a lot of stuff to do, like meeting this moment of what is going to be required for safety and alignment, and how the industry and governments can work together."

The company confidentially filed for a potential IPO in June but has not disclosed a target date. OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar will lead the eventual public offering.

Safety concerns reshape timeline

The delay comes amid mounting industry anxiety about AI development pace and control. Last week, AI researcher Jacob Coxon resigned from rival Anthropic after working at both companies, stating publicly that "the people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade." His departure sparked renewed calls to slow AI advancement.

Altman's interview addressed these concerns directly, discussing risks AI poses to humanity, the speed of model development, and whether increasingly powerful systems can remain under human control. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella echoed similar themes in a LinkedIn post over the weekend, writing that "any pursuit of superintelligence has to be grounded in the core principle that if the AI we build is not helping humanity and under human control, it's not worth pursuing."

Why it matters

OpenAI's decision to prioritize safety over a lucrative public market debut signals a potential shift in how leading AI companies balance commercial pressure against existential risk concerns. The delay also gives regulators and the industry more time to establish safety frameworks before capital markets gain direct influence over the company's strategic direction. For investors and competitors watching OpenAI's trajectory, the extended private phase means the company can continue rapid iteration without quarterly earnings pressures—but also delays liquidity for employees and early backers.

Enterprise push continues

Despite the IPO delay, OpenAI continues aggressive commercial expansion. CFO Sarah Friar told a Goldman Sachs conference on September 8 that enterprise revenue grew 32% from June to July, outpacing the 20% increase in overall annualized revenue during the same period. The company is targeting specialized industries including chip design, life sciences, and financial services.

On September 10, OpenAI launched a new ChatGPT version for banks and financial firms powered by its GPT-6 Astra model.

These details were first reported by Fortune in an exclusive interview with Altman.