The listing schedule for OpenAI has been adjusted. The company CEO Sam Altman stated that although OpenAI has secretly submitted an application for a initial public offering, it will not proceed with the listing in 2026.
This statement comes at a time when the outside world is continuously paying attention to the security of AI and the aftermath of recent security incidents involving OpenAI. In an interview with Alyson Shontell, the editor-in-chief of Fortune, Altman stated that the company is not in a hurry to proceed with IPO and that now is not the appropriate time for listing.
Altman Denies Listing in 2026
Altman indicates that OpenAI will be launched on the market when it is "ready." This depends not only on whether the business itself is mature, but also on how society perceives the current stage of this technology.
When asked whether this meant that IPO would not occur in 2026, Altman directly replied, "It won't be in 2026." He also stated that the company still has many matters to deal with at present.
AI Security discussions affect the pace
Altman believes that it would not be wise to go public rashly at a time when the current discussions surrounding the security of AI are intensifying. The relevant statements also reflect that OpenAI is attempting to reserve more space for technology, governance, and public opinion in its capital market activities.
The interview background also mentioned that the subsequent impacts of the hacker incidents related to OpenAI and Hugging Face are still unfolding. It was against this backdrop that the host asked whether the company would continue to advance its business at a rapid pace due to the IPO plan.
Originally planned or in the second half of 2026
In June of this year, The New York Times reported that OpenAI had hired teams of investment banks and lawyers with the goal of going public in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. However, the report also mentioned at that time that the company internally preferred to push the timeline to 2027.
The reasons cited in the report include increased volatility in technology stocks, as well as the financial pressures faced by OpenAI itself. With Altman's latest statement, it is now basically confirmed that the company will not complete its listing in 2026.
