Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Sam Altman Delays OpenAI IPO Beyond 2026 Over Safety
OpenAI makes artificial intelligence products.
Its CEO, Sam Altman, said the company will not sell shares to the public in 2026.
He suggested that 2027 is more likely, although the final timing is not fixed.
Altman said the company has important safety work to complete first.
He believes even a 10% chance of AI causing a terrible disaster is far too risky.
He also said AI companies and governments should work together to reduce these dangers.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Elon Musk likewise called for AI development to move more carefully.
OpenAI has already privately filed paperwork that keeps an IPO option open.
Anthropic is still preparing for its own possible IPO despite the safety concerns.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company will not go public in 2026 and indicated a 2027 listing.
Altman called the current timing an “ill-advised moment” because OpenAI must address AI safety and alignment concerns.
He said even a 10% chance of AI causing catastrophic harm or human extinction would be unacceptable.
Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and xAI co-founder Elon Musk separately supported a slower, more deliberate pace for AI development.
OpenAI confidentially filed IPO paperwork in June, while Anthropic continues preparing for a potential listing as early as mid-October.
- Who
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, xAI co-founder Elon Musk, and the companies they represent.
- What
- OpenAI is delaying its planned IPO beyond 2026 while prioritizing AI safety, alignment, and cooperation on managing risks.
- When
- Altman’s remarks were published on Saturday; he said the IPO would not occur in 2026 and indicated 2027 as the likely timing.
- Where
- Altman made the remarks in an interview with Fortune; OpenAI’s confidential filing was submitted to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Why
- Altman said AI safety risks, including the possibility of losing control of advanced systems, require more attention before the company goes public.
Prioritize Safety and Slow Development
Maintain Flexibility and Continue Development
Pace of AI development
Prioritize Safety and Slow Development
Altman, Amodei, and Musk support pacing or slowing frontier AI development because of risks involving misuse, loss of control, and potentially catastrophic harm.
Maintain Flexibility and Continue Development
Amodei’s proposal does not call for halting model training or technical progress, and companies continue developing AI systems and preparing business plans.
OpenAI IPO timing
Prioritize Safety and Slow Development
Altman said 2026 would be an ill-advised time to go public while OpenAI works on safety and alignment issues.
Maintain Flexibility and Continue Development
OpenAI’s confidential filing preserves the option to go public sooner if that becomes advantageous, while executives have indicated that 2027 is the likely timing.
Industry coordination
Prioritize Safety and Slow Development
Altman suggested leading AI companies and governments may cooperate on safety measures, including potentially slowing development and using independent evaluators.
Maintain Flexibility and Continue Development
The articles describe possible discussions and proposals rather than a finalized industry-wide agreement, and Anthropic continues preparing for its own IPO.
- Company
- OpenAI
- Chief executive
- Sam Altman
- IPO timing
- No IPO in 2026; Altman indicated that 2027 is more likely, but the timing remains undecided.
- IPO filing
- OpenAI confidentially submitted IPO paperwork, including an S-1 prospectus, in June.
- Safety threshold
- Altman said accepting an approximately 10% chance of catastrophic AI harm or human extinction would be unacceptable.
- Industry response
- Dario Amodei urged companies to slow the pace of AI capability improvements, and Altman and Musk expressed support for a more deliberate approach.
- Anthropic IPO
- Anthropic has also confidentially filed IPO paperwork and could begin marketing its offering in mid-October at the earliest, according to reports.
Sources
"Ill-Advised Moment": Sam Altman Says OpenAI IPO Won't Launch In 2026
Sam Altman calls 2026 an ‘ill-advised moment’ for OpenAI IPO, eyes 2027
OpenAI will not go public in 2026, says Sam Altman amid AI safety concerns
Sam Altman says OpenAI IPO won’t happen in 2026, calls AI extinction risk ‘unacceptable’
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