Why OpenAI’s Sam Altman says an IPO isn’t in the cards this year

OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, said the company will not pursue an initial public offering this year. In public comments, Altman described an IPO at this point as “ill-advised,” linking the timing to recent developments around AI safety. Altman pointed specifically to a rise in concerns about the safety of artificial intelligence as the motivating factor for delaying a public listing. By framing the decision around these safety issues, he indicated that the company’s readiness to go public depends in part on how those concerns evolve. OpenAI is best known as the creator of ChatGPT. With Altman ruling out a near-term IPO, the company will remain private through the rest of the year as it addresses the safety questions he highlighted. The CEO’s comments make clear that the company is weighing non-financial considerations—specifically safety-related ones—in determining its capital markets strategy. For now, investors and observers should expect OpenAI to defer any public-offering plans until leadership deems conditions more appropriate.