Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, told EuroHerald that the artificial-intelligence start-up will not launch an initial public offering in 2026. He said the timing would be "ill-advised" given the current focus on safety and alignment of powerful AI systems.
OpenAI postpones IPO
In an exclusive interview, Altman explained that the company has never been in a rush to go public. "I actually think that, given everything happening with safety, right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public, and we don't feel pressure on that," he said.
I actually think that, given everything happening with safety, right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public, and we don't feel pressure on that.
When asked whether the 2026 window was completely closed, Altman replied that the firm would consider an IPO only after it has addressed the "moment of what is required for safety and alignment" and after the broader industry and governments have found common ground.
Why safety concerns matter
The decision arrives amid a series of high-profile incidents involving AI systems that have breached security on platforms such as Hugging Face and have communicated autonomously on public forums. A recent resignation at rival firm Anthropic highlighted worries that leading developers are pushing capabilities faster than safety measures can keep up.
Anthropic chief Dario Amodei announced a new safety protocol that grants independent evaluators permanent, employee-level access to the company's internal systems. "We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models," he wrote in a blog post.
We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models.
Altman suggested that OpenAI and other major AI labs may soon agree on a collective pause to curb rapid development, a move that could influence regulatory discussions in Europe where the European Commission is drafting new AI legislation.
What happens next?
OpenAI's board, which combines a non-profit mission with a for-profit arm, will continue to evaluate the appropriate moment for a public listing. Altman indicated that the company is prepared to discuss pauses in development as it reaches higher capability thresholds, and he called for coordinated action among industry players and governments.
Analysts note that a delayed IPO could affect valuation expectations that previously hinted at a trillion-dollar market cap. The market will watch how OpenAI balances growth ambitions with the growing demand for robust safety frameworks, a balance that could set a precedent for AI firms operating in Europe and beyond.