OpenAI is preparing for a public stock offering with a valuation of $1 trillion. This could become one of the largest IPOs in history, writes Reuters, citing sources.
According to the agency, the company intends to file with securities regulators in the second half of 2026. Initially, there was talk of raising $60 billion, but the amount could be increased.
Reuters notes that discussions are at an early stage, and terms may change depending on business growth and overall market conditions.
Journalists added that CFO Sarah Friar informed some employees about plans to go public in 2027. Meanwhile, some advisors believe the listing could occur earlier—by the end of 2026.
“An IPO is not our main goal, so we couldn’t set a date. We are building a sustainable business and advancing our mission so everyone can benefit from AGI,” commented an OpenAI representative.
Restructuring as a Path to IPO
Recently, the company completed a comprehensive restructuring, dividing it into a commercial corporation and a non-profit foundation.
The OpenAI Foundation controls OpenAI Group, which can freely raise funds or acquire companies without legal restrictions.
The foundation owns 26% of the commercial company and can appoint its board of directors. Microsoft received 27%, and investors and partners hold 47%.
An IPO will allow the startup to attract capital more effectively, make significant acquisitions using public shares, and fund CEO Sam Altman’s plans to invest trillions in AI infrastructure.
“I think it’s fair to say that this is the most likely path for us [IPO], given the capital needs,” the entrepreneur said during a live broadcast.
According to Reuters sources, with an expected annual revenue of about $20 billion, OpenAI also faces increasing losses.
A Win for Investors
A successful stock offering would be a significant achievement for OpenAI investors such as SoftBank, Thrive Capital, MGX from Abu Dhabi, and Microsoft. The latter has invested a total of $13 billion in the startup, and with a $1 trillion valuation, the corporation’s stake would reach $270 billion.
The development of artificial intelligence is driving the growth of technology-related stocks. On October 29, AI chip developer Nvidia became the first company in history to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion.
In October, OpenAI allowed current and former employees to sell shares worth $6.6 billion. In this deal, the startup was valued at $500 billion—a record among private firms.
Earlier in the same month, the startup launched its own browser, Atlas.