OpenAI 'will be a public company in 2027' or sooner, CFO Friar tells employees
OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar informed employees the company aims to go public by 2027 or sooner, provided growth remains strong. While OpenAI reports a revenue run rate exceeding $40 billion, recent data shows a shift in momentum. Anthropic surpassed OpenAI in second-quarter revenue for the first time, leading to reports of tepid growth at OpenAI. Both companies have confidentially filed IPO prospectuses with US regulators. Friar told staff the company is "running its own race" despite Anthropic's potential public debut as early as September.
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- ✓ OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar told employees the company will be a public company in 2027 or sooner.
- ✓ Anthropic's second-quarter revenue surpassed OpenAI's for the first time.
- ✓ OpenAI's revenue run rate is over $40 billion.
- ✓ OpenAI and Anthropic have both confidentially filed IPO prospectuses with US regulators.
What changed
CFO Sarah Friar specified a 2027 IPO target and confirmed confidential filings with US regulators.
Live updates
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OpenAI Targets 2027 IPO Amid Revenue Shift to Anthropic
OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar informed employees the company aims to go public by 2027 or sooner, provided growth remains strong. While OpenAI reports a revenue run rate exceeding $40 billion, recent data shows a shift in momentum. Anthropic surpassed OpenAI in second-quarter revenue for the first time, leading to reports of tepid growth at OpenAI. Both companies have confidentially filed IPO prospectuses with US regulators. Friar told staff the company is "running its own race" despite Anthropic's potential public debut as early as September.
Why it matters
The race for AI dominance is shifting from model capability to commercial sustainability. As OpenAI faces deepening losses and slowing sales growth, its ability to maintain market leadership is being tested by rivals. This transition to a public company would provide liquidity for investors but increase scrutiny of its profitability.
What is confirmed
- OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar told employees the company will be a public company in 2027 or sooner.
- Anthropic's second-quarter revenue surpassed OpenAI's for the first time.
- OpenAI's revenue run rate is over $40 billion.
- OpenAI and Anthropic have both confidentially filed IPO prospectuses with US regulators.
Still unconfirmed
- OpenAI provided investors with negative news regarding eventual profitability.
- Sam Altman has paused frontier AI training.
- OpenAI's CFO has downplayed the importance of the IPO to staff.
What to watch next
- Anthropic's potential public debut in September
- Official confirmation of OpenAI's profitability timeline
- Updates on frontier AI training status
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (14)
- www.cnbc.com — Squawk Box
- Bloomberg.com — OpenAI’s Revenue Run Rate Tops $40 Billion Ahead of IPO
- wsj.com — Exclusive | OpenAI’s Second-Quarter Sales Show Tepid Growth Compared With Anthropic
- PYMNTS.com — Anthropic Beats OpenAI in Revenue for First Time
- CNBC — OpenAI 'will be a public company in 2027' or sooner, CFO Friar tells employees
- Yahoo Finance — Anthropic surpasses OpenAI in Q2 revenue for the first time
- Gizmodo — OpenAI Reportedly Just Gave Investors Bad News on Eventual Profitability
- CoinDesk — OpenAI trails Anthropic as losses deepen and Altman pauses frontier AI training
- finance.yahoo.com — Tech stocks today: OpenAI's growth disappoints, Meta trial continues
- New York Post — Anthropic’s earnings overtake OpenAI’s for the first time: ‘revenue engine’
- Semafor — OpenAI sales growth slows, unnerving investors ahead of planned IPO
- Yahoo Finance — Tech stocks today: OpenAI's growth disappoints, chip stock slide continues
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