OpenAI’s Enterprise Business Surpasses Consumer Sales of ChatGPT
OpenAI‘s CFO, Sarah Friar, disclosed at an investor meeting on August 14, a significant milestone: the company’s enterprise business now outpaces the revenue from its consumer-facing ChatGPT platform. This achievement, initially predicted to occur by the end of 2026, has occurred much earlier. Concurrently, the company’s annualized revenue run rate has reached a staggering $40 billion, as confirmed by CNBC.
“We started the year with a 60-40 split, but the enterprise sector has grown much faster than anticipated, causing a shift in the balance,” Friar explained at the meeting, as reported by an attendee. This shift occurred during a tumultuous week for OpenAI’s leadership, marked by the departure of its Chief Revenue Officer, Denise Dresser, and longtime executive, Brad Lightcap.
Furthermore, Friar unveiled a new revenue stream: advertising. After initiating ChatGPT ad testing in February 2026, it is now nearing a $1 billion annualized run rate. These revelations come as OpenAI confidentially files an IPO S-1 prospectus with the SEC. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase are leading the deal, aiming for a valuation of at least $1 trillion.
The shift towards enterprise dominance indicates a broader transformation within the AI industry. The primary revenue battlefield has now moved from the consumer market to the corporate world.
Source: CNBC – OpenAI CFO Friar tells investors enterprise business now bigger than consumer by revenue