Altman Downplays OpenAI's IPO Race with Anthropic

According to Beating Monitor, in a CNBC "Power Lunch" interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to competitor Anthropic’s earlier secret submission of its S-1 registration statement draft. Reports indicate that OpenAI is also actively preparing to secretly file its S-1 prospectus draft, with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley serving as joint bookrunners, originally planning to submit it no later than the end of May 2026 in pursuit of a public listing in fall 2026. However, Anthropic preemptively announced its secret filing on June 1, gaining an early lead in the capital market race, sparking speculation that OpenAI’s timeline may be delayed or overtaken. During the interview, Altman downplayed competition among large model companies regarding IPO timing, publicly stating that an IPO is merely a financing event and that the company will not focus on the precise timing of its listing. Altman emphasized that the real competition in the industry lies in delivering cutting-edge technology and building sustainable business models—not in racing to go public. Regarding OpenAI’s own IPO progress, Altman revealed that the company will not adjust its pace based on competitors’ actions and will proceed with its listing when the timing is right.