OpenAI, the company behind the widely used ChatGPT chatbot, has announced plans to pursue a future stock market listing, becoming the latest artificial intelligence giant seeking access to public investors as competition in the sector accelerates.
The move comes just a week after rival AI firm Anthropic revealed its own intention to go public, highlighting a growing race among leading technology companies to secure the capital needed to fund increasingly expensive AI development.
OpenAI disclosed on Monday that it had confidentially filed paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a potential initial public offering (IPO). While the company did not provide a timeline for the listing, the filing marks a significant step toward entering public markets.
“We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company,” OpenAI said in a statement.
The announcement places OpenAI alongside a new wave of high-profile IPO candidates. Among them is Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, and Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, which is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq later this week. SpaceX is reportedly targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion.
Industry analysts say the rush toward public listings reflects the enormous funding requirements facing AI companies.
According to Sunil Krishnan of Aviva Investors, leading AI firms have an immense need for cash as they continue investing heavily in computing infrastructure, advanced chips, and the training of increasingly sophisticated AI models.
“None of these companies wants to be last,” Krishnan said, noting that access to public markets could provide a crucial source of funding for future expansion.
OpenAI and Anthropic have emerged as two of the most influential players in generative AI. Their rivalry dates back to 2021 when Anthropic was founded by Dario Amodei, a former OpenAI executive who left the company following disagreements with OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman.
Since then, both companies have competed aggressively for customers, enterprise contracts, engineering talent, and investor support. Their private market valuations have also surged dramatically as demand for AI technologies continues to grow.
OpenAI was most recently valued at approximately $852 billion by private investors, while Anthropic’s latest valuation reached $965 billion, bringing both companies close to the $1 trillion mark.
Although neither company has confirmed when it intends to launch its IPO, investors are closely monitoring developments. Market observers believe the performance of OpenAI and Anthropic on public exchanges could influence investor sentiment toward the broader AI industry.
Richard Crowley, an assistant professor at Singapore Management University, said the success of either company’s listing could have wider implications for the sector.
“While OpenAI and Anthropic are direct competitors, the success of their fundraising efforts is closely tied to how investors view the future of generative AI,” he said.
As AI development costs continue to rise, access to public capital is increasingly becoming a strategic priority, setting the stage for one of the technology sector’s most closely watched IPO battles.
