The ChatGPT developer OpenAI is heading for the stock market. At the same time, the company also signals that it wants to take its time with it.
Jun 9, 2026, 6:01 amJun 9, 2026, 6:01 am
The trio of expected mega IPOs from tech companies is complete: ChatGPT inventor OpenAI has now also applied for a share placement. Similar to its rival Anthropic, details of the confidential application remain under wraps for the time being. OpenAI also emphasized that it could still take some time until the IPO. Because it makes some business things easier not to be listed on the stock exchange.
Sam Altman is aiming to go public with OpenAI.Image: keystone
Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX, on the other hand, is expected to start trading on the stock market next Friday – and is aiming for a valuation of almost 1.8 trillion dollars (around 1.56 trillion euros) straight away. With targeted revenues of around $75 billion, it is expected to be the largest IPO ever. With sales of less than $19 billion and red numbers last year, the targeted valuation seems exceptionally high. But SpaceX explains it with the promise of future success.
Anthropic recently completed a financing round with a valuation of $900 billion; OpenAI’s last cash injection was slightly lower. The ChatGPT company has ambitious plans to invest in data centers worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Income from an IPO could help with this. However, as with other companies in the industry, there are considerable doubts as to whether the huge expenditure on AI infrastructure can ultimately be earned back. That’s why the AI IPOs also become a test of investors’ willingness to invest in the industry. (sda/dpa)