OpenAI won’t be going public in 2026. CEO Sam Altman says it’s just not the right time for an IPO, mainly because of ongoing concerns around artificial intelligence safety. According to Altman, the company isn’t feeling any pressure to hit the stock market and will circle back to the idea down the road.

What Happened

Asked if this means the IPO is just pushed back by a year, Altman replied, “I’d say not 2026.” He went on: “We’ve got a ton of work ahead of us—making sure we meet safety standards, staying aligned as a company, and figuring out how the industry and governments can actually work together.”

Altman’s Reasoning

The main reason for hitting pause? Altman says OpenAI needs to focus on AI safety and making sure their systems are aligned. Until they nail down those areas—and figure out how to work with regulators—the public listing is on hold. He emphasized that there’s no outside pressure for OpenAI to jump into the capital markets right now.

What’s Next

OpenAI will keep working on safety requirements and building frameworks for industry-government collaboration. The company says it’ll revisit the IPO question when the timing makes sense and lines up with its priorities.