OpenAI, the artificial intelligence firm behind ChatGPT, is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) that could value the company at up to $1 trillion, potentially making it one of the largest public listings in history.
According to reports from Reuters and South China Morning Post, the company is in the early stages of planning, with a possible filing expected in the second half of 2026 and a target listing window extending into 2027. Sources familiar with the discussions say OpenAI could raise at least $60 billion through the offering.
Although the company has not confirmed an official timeline, OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, has reportedly told associates that the IPO would give the firm greater independence from Microsoft, which currently holds a significant stake in the company.
“An IPO would provide OpenAI with the flexibility to raise capital directly and fund long-term AI infrastructure,” said one source close to the talks.
A Defining Moment for AI and Tech Markets
The potential listing underscores how rapidly the AI sector has evolved from research-oriented projects into major economic drivers. A $1 trillion valuation would place OpenAI among the world’s tech giants, rivaling companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
Analysts say the move reflects investors’ growing appetite for AI-driven businesses following Nvidia’s recent surge past $5 trillion in market capitalization.
However, the firm still faces hurdles — including steep operational costs, questions over profitability, and the complexities of its hybrid nonprofit–for-profit governance structure.
Strategic Restructuring and Market Readiness
OpenAI has reportedly begun internal restructuring to prepare for public listing requirements, including clearer separation between its capped-profit subsidiary and the nonprofit parent organization. The company is also ramping up its cloud partnerships and AI infrastructure expansion to support enterprise demand.
Despite generating an annualized revenue run rate of nearly $20 billion, OpenAI remains in the red due to enormous compute and data costs. Industry observers note that an IPO would allow it to raise capital at scale while maintaining momentum in the global AI race.
Global Market Reactions
Financial experts have described the potential IPO as “a generational event,” predicting it could reset market valuations across the tech sector. However, some warn that the listing could intensify regulatory scrutiny, especially concerning data usage, AI ethics, and antitrust oversight.
If successful, OpenAI’s offering would mark a major turning point — not only for the company but for the broader AI ecosystem, cementing artificial intelligence as the defining industry of the next decade.
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