OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman recently disclosed that the company is generating significantly more than $13 billion in annual revenue. The executive, known for his candid communication style, appeared slightly impatient when confronted with persistent questions regarding how OpenAI intends to sustain and finance its extraordinary level of expenditure and investment commitments. His remarks surfaced during an extensive, joint discussion featured on the Bg2 podcast, where Altman was interviewed alongside Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. The conversation, hosted by investor and Altimeter Capital founder Brad Gerstner, focused largely on the growing and multifaceted partnership that unites OpenAI and Microsoft in advancing cutting-edge artificial intelligence initiatives.
During the exchange, Gerstner referenced circulating reports suggesting that OpenAI currently generates around $13 billion in annual revenue — an impressive figure by any corporate standard, yet still minute in contrast to the company’s stunning pledge of over one trillion dollars in forthcoming spending on computing infrastructure over the coming decade. Altman quickly corrected this characterization, emphasizing that the company’s actual earnings far exceed that estimate. He responded pointedly, remarking, in essence, that if Gerstner or any other investor wished to part with their shares, he could swiftly locate eager buyers. This quip, delivered with equal parts confidence and exasperation, underscored Altman’s belief in the company’s desirability among both private and institutional investors.
Amused by the exchange, Gerstner interjected playfully that he himself would be interested in acquiring more shares. Altman, seizing on the opportunity to make a broader point, added that many of the individuals who publicly express alarm or skepticism about OpenAI’s large-scale investments in computational capacity are often the same people who would seize a chance to purchase equity in the firm if given the opportunity. His tone suggested both frustration at the criticism and amusement at the irony of it.
Expanding on his thoughts, Altman reflected on the frequent external speculation that OpenAI might one day experience financial strain. He observed that, although he rarely desires to see OpenAI become a publicly traded entity, one of the few instances where that possibility seems appealing is when commentators publish dramatic or dire articles proclaiming that OpenAI is approaching insolvency. In such scenarios, he explained with a hint of humor, he would relish the ability to invite those same skeptics to bet against the company by shorting its stock — only to watch the market itself prove their pessimism unfounded.
At the same time, Altman acknowledged with characteristic candor that potential risks do exist and that the company is not immune to operational missteps. For example, he conceded that if OpenAI were to mismanage access to the enormous computing resources it relies upon, the firm could face setbacks. Nevertheless, he quickly balanced this by asserting that OpenAI’s revenue continues to grow sharply, describing the trajectory as steeply upward. His remarks implied that although the company’s ambitions are vast, its financial base and growth momentum remain robust enough to sustain those ambitions for the foreseeable future.
Speaking at a separate industry event scheduled in San Francisco for October 2026, Altman elaborated further on his optimistic outlook. He explained that OpenAI is effectively making an aggressive forward wager on the future, one grounded in the assumption that revenue growth will not merely persist but accelerate. He predicted not only that ChatGPT — the company’s flagship product — would maintain its extraordinary expansion, but also that OpenAI is positioning itself to become one of the world’s key AI cloud providers. Beyond enterprise software, he mentioned ambitions in developing consumer devices that could become central to how people interact with artificial intelligence daily, as well as AI-driven tools capable of revolutionizing scientific research and creating immense economic value.
Throughout this segment, Satya Nadella, who was visibly amused by Altman’s assertive exchange, pointed out with good humor that OpenAI has consistently exceeded every business plan and financial forecast it has ever presented to Microsoft as a strategic investor. Nadella’s remark not only affirmed Microsoft’s satisfaction with the partnership but also served as an acknowledgment of OpenAI’s remarkable execution against ambitious targets.
Later in the podcast, Gerstner circled back to the topic of OpenAI’s revenue trajectory and its potential path toward going public. Speculating on future growth, he suggested that the company might achieve an astonishing $100 billion in annual revenue by 2028 or 2029. Without hesitation, Altman countered the optimistic projection with an even bolder reply: why not 2027? The remark reflected both confidence in the company’s growth rate and his characteristic willingness to challenge conventional expectations.
Despite this enthusiasm, Altman took care to dispel recent media claims suggesting that OpenAI might soon file for an initial public offering. He firmly denied any concrete plans or timeline for going public in the near term, clarifying that while he presumes such a milestone is inevitable someday, no official decision or board discussion has occurred to set it in motion. In his words, the idea of an IPO remains a distant eventuality rather than an imminent objective. His pragmatic stance conveyed that OpenAI’s leadership is far more concerned with sustaining innovation and delivering on its technical roadmap than with navigating the short-term pressures of public-market scrutiny.
Taken as a whole, Altman’s remarks portray a portrait of a company brimming with self-assurance yet acutely aware of the magnitude of its aspirations. His demeanor — a blend of impatience with speculation and confidence in execution — captured the paradox of OpenAI’s current position: an enterprise already achieving remarkable financial success but still in the midst of a much larger, transformational journey to define the future of artificial intelligence.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/02/sam-altman-says-enough-to-questions-about-openais-revenue/
