OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explicitly ruled out a 2026 IPO in mid-September, citing the need to prioritize AI safety, alignment work, and industry-government coordination as a private company, which directly underpins the 96.7% market-implied probability against a $1T+ listing before 2027. Traders cite the company's confidential S-1 filing without a committed timeline, ongoing pursuit of a $30B+ bridge round targeting $1.4T valuation, and recent revenue run-rate growth to around $40-70B annualized as factors reinforcing a 2027 debut. While near-certain consensus reflects these verified developments, realistic shifts could still arise from rapid safety resolutions, unexpected regulatory approvals accelerating public readiness, or competitive moves by rivals like Anthropic that alter market dynamics.