Is OpenAI Going to IPO?

As of now, OpenAI has not announced a specific date for its initial public offering (IPO). Interest in a potential IPO is high, thanks to the company’s innovative work in natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning.

Over the past year, OpenAI's influence in the AI sector has grown. This is largely due to the launches of ChatGPT Versions 3, 3.5, ChatGPT-4 and most recently, ChatGPT-4o. These advanced AI models have hit a milestone, gaining 100 million users within months of each release.

Despite the buzz, OpenAI remains independent and plans for an IPO are still unscheduled.

OpenAI Stock Valuation

OpenAI hasn’t declared plans for an initial public offering (IPO) yet, so its stock price remains undefined. However, the company recently raised $300 million, bringing its valuation to $27 billion. This funding came from major venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.

When an IPO does happen, its anticipated price will be shaped by market conditions and investor interest in AI. OpenAI's breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and natural language processing are likely to drive significant investor enthusiasm.

Ownership of OpenAI

Initially supported by Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, OpenAI transitioned from a nonprofit to a capped-profit entity in 2019. This change was largely due to a $1 billion investment from Microsoft.

Currently, Microsoft holds a 49% stake in OpenAI, which equals the combined ownership of other investors. The original OpenAI nonprofit foundation holds the remaining 2%, maintaining its governance and independence.

In 2023, Microsoft invested another $10 billion to boost ChatGPT, pushing OpenAI's valuation to $86 billion. This investment structure caps partner profits and ensures wealth redistribution through the nonprofit foundation, particularly in advancing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

OpenAI Revenue

OpenAI's revenue has surged, hitting an annualized $1.6 billion, up from $1.3 billion in just two months. This growth follows the February 2023 launch of ChatGPT Plus, shifting focus from API-based income.

The company initially aimed for $200 million in 2023 sales but exceeded expectations with a revenue run-rate surpassing $1 billion by August. This figure rose to $1.3 billion and then to $1.6 billion, marking over 20% growth in two months.

Year-end projections suggest revenue could reach $5 billion, driven by new AI services and the development of GPT-5, according to CEO Sam Altman.

Bottom Line

In summary, OpenAI has not yet announced an IPO date despite significant interest and speculation. The company's rapid growth in both influence and revenue, driven by its groundbreaking AI models and strong financial backing, suggests an eventual IPO could draw substantial investor enthusiasm. However, as of now, OpenAI remains independent, with no scheduled plans to go public.