Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, told Fortune magazine that taking the ChatGPT developer public this year would be poorly advised, primarily because of the ongoing debate about the dangers of highly advanced artificial intelligence. When asked whether he could imagine forgoing an initial public offering in 2026, Altman replied that he would not expect a listing in that year either.
The ChatGPT model sparked the current AI hype several years ago, and an OpenAI IPO has long been anticipated as a potential source of dozens of billions of dollars in proceeds and a very high valuation. The company has been preparing for a stock market placement for some time.
In recent weeks, worries about AI risks have grown, especially after reports of hacking attempts using AI software that acted autonomously in tests. A researcher from Anthropic warned that major AI developers are acting irresponsibly and “playing with our lives.” Another Anthropic researcher, Evan Hubinger, said he believes the probability that AI could cause human extinction in the coming decade exceeds ten percent. Additionally, a movement in the United States has emerged opposing the construction of large data centers that AI firms such as OpenAI rely on to expand their operations.
