OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the company is on pace to generate over $13 billion in annual revenue, surpassing earlier projections and reinforcing its position as the world’s most commercially successful AI startup.
Speaking on the Bg2 podcast alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Altman said OpenAI’s growth reflects rising global demand for generative AI. “We’re taking a forward bet that ChatGPT will keep growing and that AI that can automate science will create huge value,” he said.
The company had been expected to earn $12.7 billion in 2025, according to Bloomberg, up from $3.7 billion last year.
Altman also pushed back against investor concerns over OpenAI’s massive spending plans — including a $1 trillion infrastructure investment over the next decade — quipping, “If you want to sell your shares, I’ll find you a buyer.”
Nadella defended the company’s performance, saying OpenAI has “beaten every business plan” it presented to Microsoft.
Still, industry experts remain cautious. AI researcher Andrej Karpathy said the sector is at least “10 years away” from achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), while a 2025 MIT study found that 95% of U.S. companies investing in generative AI had failed to see meaningful results.
Altman admitted the AI bubble is real but argued it could still yield lasting innovation. “Are investors overexcited about AI? Yes. Is AI the most important thing to happen in a long time? Also yes,” he said.
OpenAI recently finalized its transition into a public benefit corporation and restructured its deal with Microsoft, which now owns 27% of the company. A clause in the new agreement states that any declaration of AGI by OpenAI must be verified by an independent expert panel.
