OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in September 2026 that the company would not pursue an IPO this year, citing the need to address AI safety and alignment concerns for increasingly capable large language models before facing public-market scrutiny. The firm confidentially filed earlier but shifted focus amid rapid capability advances, with Altman emphasizing confident safety claims over accelerated timelines. This stance aligns with ongoing talks for a bridge private round of at least $30 billion at roughly $1.4 trillion valuation, following the March close of a record $122 billion round at $852 billion. Revenue run-rate has climbed toward $70 billion annually, supported by enterprise adoption. Traders are watching rival Anthropic’s planned November debut and any regulatory or competitive shifts that could influence OpenAI’s 2027 path.