OpenAI CFO Denies IPO Plans, Focuses on Scaling Infrastructure

At the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live conference, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar addressed speculation regarding a potential initial public offering (IPO), stating that the company is not currently planning to go public. Her remarks directly contradicted a recent Reuters report suggesting OpenAI was preparing for an IPO with a potential valuation of $1 trillion. Friar clarified that the company's current priority is scaling its operations to manage its rapid growth. This announcement follows a corporate restructuring in late October, where a deal with Microsoft valued OpenAI's for-profit arm at approximately $500 billion, affording the company greater operational flexibility. As OpenAI increases its infrastructure investments, Friar indicated the company is exploring diverse funding sources, including potential financial support from the U.S. government to aid in financing for AI chips.