OpenAI rules out 2026 IPO over AI safety work

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has ruled out a 2026 initial public offering, citing unfinished safety and alignment work while leaving the company without a confirmed listing date. Summary OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has ruled out a 2026 IPO while citing AI safety demands. Altman said OpenAI feels no pressure to list before its business and governance are ready. OpenAI has not publicly announced a firm IPO date or released offering terms for investors. The OpenAI Foundation directly controls OpenAI Group PBC through exclusive voting and governance rights today. Altman backed independent evaluators receiving employee-like access but said operational details would follow later publicly. Fortune reported on Sept. 12 that Altman called the current period an “ill-advised moment” to go public and said OpenAI felt no pressure to pursue an offering. Asked whether an IPO had moved from 2026 to 2027, Altman replied, “I would say not 2026.” He said OpenAI had substantial work remaining on safety, alignment and cooperation between governments and the AI industry. Sam Altman told me yesterday there will be no IPO for OpenAI in 2026, that it would be “ill timed” given all they have to work on with alignment, c...