OpenAI eyeing $1 trillion IPO valuation for as early as next year: report

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco artificial intelligence startup OpenAI is reportedly laying the groundwork for a $1 trillion initial public offering. That’s according to a report in Reuters, citing three people familiar with the matter.

If the reports are true, the ChatGPT parent company could be setting the stage for one of the biggest IPOs of all time. The company is reportedly considering filing with security regulators in the second half of 2026.

Preliminary discussions have reportedly seen the company look to raise $60 billion, even at the low end. Reuters sources, however, have cautioned that talks are in the early stages and that projected figures and timing could change.

OpenAI’s CFO, Sarah Friar, reportedly told people the company is targeting 2027 for listing its stock. Advisers, however, predict it could come earlier.

“An IPO is not our focus, so we could not possibly have set a date,” an OpenAI spokesperson told Reuters. “We are building a durable business and advancing our mission to everyone benefits from AGI.”

AGI refers to artificial general intelligence, a hypothetical level of artificial intelligence where AI has the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks at a level that’s comparable, or superior to, human intelligence.

Several of OpenAI’s recent moves support the idea that the company could be lining up an IPO. Recently, OpenAI closed a major restructuring deal with Microsoft and received the blessing of California Attorney General Rob Bonta to transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity.

Headquartered in San Francisco, OpenAI was founded by Sam Altman in 2015 and is among the leading names in AI. Its lead product, ChatGPT was launched in 2022 and is among the most widely used LLM currently on the market.