sam altman says ‘enough’ to questions about openai’s revenue

OpenAI's Revenue and Future Plans

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently disclosed that the company’s annual revenue surpasses $13 billion. He exhibited some impatience when questioned regarding the funding of the company’s substantial expenditure commitments.

Discussion with Satya Nadella

These statements were made during a collaborative interview on the BG² podcast, featuring Altman and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, focusing on the partnership between their respective organizations.

Podcast host Brad Gerstner, also the founder and CEO of Altimeter Capital, referenced reports indicating OpenAI’s current revenue around $13 billion. This figure, while considerable, is significantly less than the over $1 trillion in spending commitments OpenAI has undertaken for computing infrastructure over the next ten years.

Altman's Response to Revenue Questions

“To begin with, our revenue is considerably higher than that amount,” Altman stated. He then playfully responded to Gerstner, “If you’re looking to sell your shares, I can locate a buyer.” Nadella’s laughter followed this remark. “There’s substantial interest in acquiring OpenAI shares.”

Gerstner interjected, expressing his own interest in acquiring shares.

Altman further noted that critics expressing concerns about the company’s computing resources would be eager to purchase OpenAI shares. He implied a willingness to see those critics proven wrong.

Addressing Concerns About Financial Stability

Altman conceded that the company could face challenges – such as insufficient access to computing power – but emphasized that revenue is experiencing rapid growth. He expressed confidence in continued expansion.

“We are strategically investing in future growth, anticipating continued increases in revenue,” Altman explained. “This includes the ongoing success of ChatGPT, the development of a significant AI cloud platform, a thriving consumer device business, and the potential of AI to revolutionize scientific automation.”

Microsoft's Perspective

Nadella corroborated this positive outlook, asserting that OpenAI has consistently exceeded the expectations outlined in its business plans presented to Microsoft as an investor.

IPO Speculation

Gerstner revisited the topic of OpenAI’s revenue and potential IPO plans later in the conversation, suggesting a possible $100 billion revenue milestone by 2028 or 2029.

Altman countered with a more optimistic projection: “Perhaps 2027?”

However, he refuted reports indicating an imminent IPO next year.

“We haven’t established any specific timeline,” Altman clarified. “While I anticipate a public offering eventually, there’s no current board decision or concrete plan in place. Reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.”

He acknowledged that an IPO could be appealing when facing criticism about the company’s financial viability, allowing skeptics to short the stock and potentially suffer losses.

• Key Takeaway: OpenAI is experiencing substantial revenue growth and remains confident in its future prospects.
• Future Outlook: The company anticipates continued expansion across multiple business areas, including ChatGPT, AI cloud services, and consumer devices.