OpenAI Prepares for Landmark IPO, Aiming for September 2026 Launch
In a move set to revolutionize the AI industry, OpenAI is gearing up to confidentially file for an initial public offering (IPO) as early as Friday, May 22, 2026. This event could be one of the largest tech IPOs in history.
The creator of ChatGPT, OpenAI, is collaborating with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to prepare the filing. The company aims for a public debut in September 2026, potentially exceeding a valuation of $1 trillion. The most recent private funding round valued OpenAI at $852 billion, placing it among the most valuable private companies worldwide.
OpenAI’s decision comes amidst intense competition in the AI sector. Anthropic, a rival company, is also gearing up for a public listing later in 2026, with a projected valuation of $900 billion. SpaceX, which merged with xAI earlier this year, filed its public IPO prospectus on May 20, 2026, aiming for a June listing with a $1.75 trillion valuation. The convergence of these mega-IPOs signifies a pivotal moment for the AI industry, which has been almost entirely privately funded until now.
The timing is strategic for OpenAI. The company is looking to capitalize on investor enthusiasm while addressing the need to show that its revenue growth can keep pace with its substantial compute infrastructure spending commitments. The scrutiny of the public market will test whether AI valuations can maintain their private market momentum.
Source: CNBC