Sam Altman, Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, announced on Saturday that the company will not go public in 2026. Citing reporting by Reuters, Altman said that even the smallest acceptable risk is intolerable when it comes to the possible extinction of humanity, and for that reason the company will not proceed with a 2026 initial public offering.
Altman’s decision follows growing calls from U.S. lawmakers for new rules governing artificial intelligence systems. He said that given recent events around safety, it would not be wise to pursue an IPO now, and that OpenAI does not feel pressured to do so.
"I can't estimate the percentage chance that AI would extinguish humanity, but no risk is tolerable," Altman was quoted as saying. He added that everyone involved has a huge responsibility, and they must not allow ego, profit motive or any other factor to stand in the way of safety.
Political pressure and sector concerns
The move comes amid intensifying political scrutiny and rising concerns within the AI community. There have been recent incidents in which artificial intelligence systems behaved unexpectedly, including cases involving breaches of external systems. Several AI safety researchers have also left their companies recently, citing worries about the risks posed by the technology.
This week drew special attention after Jacob Coxon, a researcher at Anthropic, resigned and said that "those building artificial intelligence seriously believe it could kill all of us by the end of the decade." His remarks have amplified public and professional debate about the potential catastrophic risks of advanced AI.
Altman said OpenAI must act in a way that avoids taking such levels of risk and expressed confidence that the company can make the necessary choices.
Market implications and timing
Delaying an IPO means OpenAI may lose timing advantages to other firms in the market. Reuters notes that Elon Musk’s rocket manufacturer and AI-related company, SpaceX, plans to go public this Thursday; the offering could value SpaceX at about $1.8 trillion, which would be an all-time high.
While OpenAI remains private, competitors may seize advantage in timing and access to public capital. Altman’s decision, however, underscores prioritizing safety concerns over immediate financial gains.
