OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in mid-September 2026 that the company would not pursue an IPO this year, prioritizing safety and alignment work for its large language models over a public listing amid concerns about AI risks. The firm confidentially filed IPO paperwork with the SEC in June but has emphasized no immediate pressure to list, while pursuing a potential $30 billion private round at around $1.4 trillion valuation following its earlier $122 billion raise. Revenue run rates have climbed toward $50-70 billion annually, supported by strong enterprise adoption. Rival Anthropic plans a November 2026 debut, providing a near-term test of AI market sentiment as OpenAI focuses on internal safety benchmarks before any 2027 timeline.