OpenAI is preparing for a potential IPO that could value the company at up to $1 trillion, with plans to file with securities regulators as early as the second half of 2026. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar aims for a 2027 listing, but some advisers predict it could happen sooner.

The IPO preparations follow a major restructuring, as OpenAI evolved from a nonprofit to a for-profit model with a 26% stake held by the OpenAI Foundation. Investors such as SoftBank and Microsoft are poised to benefit, with AI driving a surge in public markets.

An IPO would enable OpenAI to raise capital more efficiently and pursue larger acquisitions, as the company’s annualized revenue run rate is expected to reach $20 billion by year-end. CEO Sam Altman has expressed that going public is the most likely path for the company due to its capital needs.

The Wall Street Journal initially reported on OpenAI’s potential IPO as early as 2027. Nvidia recently reached a $5 trillion market value, reflecting the growing importance of AI in the global market. CoreWeave, another AI company, went public earlier this year at a $23 billion valuation.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Exclusive-OpenAI lays groundwork for juggernaut IPO at up to $1 trillion valuation