OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the company will not go public until at least 2027, citing safety concerns. The announcement comes after a week of turmoil across the AI industry, including two Anthropic employees leaving over safety worries and a fresh hacking incident at OpenAI itself.
Altman made the comments during an interview with Fortune’s Alyson Shontell, which was released on Saturday. He said the timeline for OpenAI’s initial public offering has been pushed back amid concerns about AI’s rapid development and the potential loss of control over the technology.
Altman’s Safety Concerns
Altman’s remarks follow a week that tested the industry’s commitment to safety. Two Anthropic employees cited safety concerns as reasons for leaving the company. The departures arrive as the field coalesces around calls for stronger measures to govern how AI systems are built and deployed.
The timing matters. Safety has moved from an abstract worry to a live issue for companies building some of the most powerful AI systems in the world. OpenAI’s decision to delay its planned public offering is a direct response to that pressure.
The Hacking Incident
OpenAI also said on Friday that another hacking incident occurred in May. That incident preceded the now-infamous Hugging Face event that sparked cybersecurity concerns in July.
The sequence is notable. A breach in May, followed by a high-profile security event in July, and then a public announcement from OpenAI that it will not go public until at least 2027. The company is not just facing external scrutiny; it is acknowledging internal vulnerabilities in its own operations.
What the Delay Means
Altman’s reasoning is straightforward. The technology is developing too fast, and the industry has not yet found effective ways to govern it.
Going public in 2026 would have exposed OpenAI to investor pressure that could have compromised its ability to move cautiously. The decision also sends a signal to the broader industry. If OpenAI, one of the most valuable AI companies in the world, is willing to push back its planned public offering over safety, others may follow.
The Broader Context
The safety push is not limited to OpenAI. Across the industry, companies are grappling with the question of how to build AI systems that can be trusted. The departures at Anthropic suggest that some employees believe the current pace of development is unsustainable.
The Hugging Face event in July added urgency. A major security incident involving a prominent AI platform drew attention to the vulnerabilities in the systems that power the industry. OpenAI’s disclosure of the May incident shows that the problem is systemic, not isolated.
| Event | Date | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic employee departures | Recent week | Cited safety concerns as reason for leaving |
| OpenAI hacking incident | May | Preceded Hugging Face event |
| Hugging Face event | July | Sparked cybersecurity concerns |
| OpenAI public offering delay announcement | Released Saturday | Pushed back to at least 2027 |
The table shows the sequence of events. Each one builds on the last, creating a picture of an industry under strain.
What Remains to Be Seen
OpenAI has set its course. The company is betting that the industry can find common ground on safety standards, even as the technology accelerates. The next year will test whether that bet pays off.
The decision itself is a statement of intent. OpenAI is prioritizing caution over speed, and that is a position few of its competitors have taken.
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