Sam Altman Rules Out OpenAI (read this guide) Listing in 2026, Cites Safety Concerns
September 13, 2026 – 3:54 pm
OpenAI will not go public this year, and its CEO, Sam Altman, attributes this decision to safety concerns. In an interview with Fortune, Altman stated, "I would say not 2026. Given everything happening with safety, right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public."
Altman emphasized that the company needs to address "a lot of stuff to do" regarding safety and alignment before considering an IPO. He suggested that OpenAI will list when both the business and society are ready, emphasizing the importance of societal contemplation at every level of AI capability.
This delay comes after previous speculation about 2027 as the listing date, with explanations shifting from financial considerations to a focus on safety. In June, Altman reportedly sought a $1 trillion valuation, while earlier, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar indicated a 2027 or sooner listing.
The context has evolved, particularly with concerns raised by researchers and industry leaders regarding AI safety. These include a resignation at Anthropic over life-gambling allegations, Yoshua Bengio’s 10-year horizon for AI safety, and Bridgewater’s investment officer’s podcast statement that nothing will be done until AI causes a fatality.
A listed company must disclose such incidents and maintain ongoing disclosures, which could be more challenging for OpenAI given its recent breach of Hugging Face, leading to a Senate inquiry and state attorneys general’s letters.
Additionally, OpenAI’s substantial private market funding ($122 billion at an $852 billion valuation) provides flexibility to avoid the immediate disclosure and regulatory burdens of a public listing.
Altman did not provide a specific new date but highlighted the importance of both business and societal readiness for AI, aligning with safety arguments. The balance sheet and competitive landscape, with cheap Chinese models pressuring valuations, are also factors in the decision.