OpenAI Rules Out 2026 IPO as Altman Prioritizes AI Safety

OpenAI will not pursue an initial public offering in 2026 as the artificial intelligence company focuses on mounting safety and alignment challenges, CEO Sam Altman said in an interview with Fortune published Saturday.

Altman said current concerns surrounding advanced AI make this an unsuitable time for OpenAI to go public. The company also does not face pressure to complete an IPO, he added.

AI safety has received increased attention in Washington as U.S. lawmakers consider stronger regulations for rapidly advancing artificial intelligence systems. Researchers at OpenAI rival Anthropic have issued severe warnings about the potential long-term risks posed by increasingly capable AI.

Concerns have intensified following incidents involving AI agents interacting unexpectedly with external systems and departures of AI safety researchers worried about how quickly the technology is progressing. Lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties have called for greater oversight.

The New York Times reported in June that OpenAI was considering delaying a potentially trillion-dollar IPO until 2027. Asked whether a 2026 listing was now ruled out, Altman confirmed that OpenAI would not go public this year.

“We got a lot of stuff to do,” Altman told Fortune, pointing to AI safety, alignment and cooperation between governments and the technology industry as immediate priorities.

Altman also indicated that OpenAI and other major AI developers could be approaching an agreement to moderate the pace of AI development while collaborating on safety measures.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei separately called for AI companies to slow improvements in model capabilities. Altman later said on X that he agreed with Amodei’s position, adding that pacing development at the AI frontier had become a major subject of recent discussions within OpenAI.

Anthropic, however, is continuing preparations for its own IPO. The company could begin marketing the offering as early as mid-October and complete its stock-market debut shortly before the U.S. midterm elections in November, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the plans.