OpenAI is reportedly weighing whether to delay its planned public listing until 2027. The ChatGPT maker faces a tough choice over timing and valuation.
A 2026 listing could value OpenAI below $1 trillion, advisers have warned. Waiting until 2027 could give it a stronger shot at that mark. Chief executive Sam Altman reportedly wants the trillion-dollar valuation.
Earlier signals had pointed to a faster timeline. Sources said OpenAI aimed for a debut in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. The company filed a confidential draft registration with regulators in June. That step lets review begin before any public prospectus appears.
OpenAI stressed the timing remains undecided, though. It said some plans are easier to pursue as a private company. However, the filing keeps the option open to list sooner if needed. The company has reportedly engaged Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
The decision ripples across the wider AI market. Chip stocks slipped on the report of a possible delay. Investors treat these mega-listings as a health check on AI demand. SpaceX’s recent record IPO is seen as an early indicator.
Rival Anthropic adds competitive pressure to the timing. Anthropic is also preparing a late-2026 listing of its own. It was valued at $965 billion after a June 2026 funding round. OpenAI filed for its IPO shortly after its rival did.
The financials show why valuation talk stays cautious. OpenAI made around $13 billion in revenue last year. It generates roughly $2 billion in revenue each month. Yet it plans to spend about $600 billion on computing by 2030. Its weekly user base now hovers around 900 million people.
