Full Breakdown
OpenAI Misses User and Sales Targets, Raising Funding Concerns
4/28/2026, 11:42:40 AM
Core Event: Missed User and Sales Goals
OpenAI did not achieve its internal objectives for new user acquisition and sales in 2026, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company’s ChatGPT service fell short of the target of one billion weekly active users by the end of 2025, and it missed several monthly sales milestones during the year. Rival Anthropic PBC gained market share in both coding and enterprise segments, while Google’s Gemini chatbot attracted a portion of OpenAI’s subscriber base.
Background: Funding Commitments and Infrastructure Plans
OpenAI has publicly pledged to spend more than $1.4 trillion on AI infrastructure. To finance this ambition, the firm completed a $110 billion funding round in February, its largest to date. Major backer SoftBank Group Corp. contributed $30 billion, bringing its cumulative investment to $64.6 billion for an estimated 13 % equity stake by year-end. The round drew from an overlapping pool of venture funds and technology companies that also back Anthropic.
Key Figures and Stakeholders
- Sarah Friar, Chief Financial Officer of OpenAI, voiced internal concerns about sales momentum.
- SoftBank Group Corp., a principal investor with a multi-billion-dollar stake.
- Anthropic PBC, a competing AI developer gaining ground in enterprise markets.
- Google Gemini, a rival chatbot that has increased its popularity among users.
Data & Statistics
- Target for ChatGPT: 1 billion weekly active users by end-2025 (not met).
- Monthly sales targets for 2026: missed multiple benchmarks (specific figures not disclosed).
- Infrastructure spending commitment: >$1.4 trillion.
- Funding round: $110 billion total; $30 billion from SoftBank.
- SoftBank’s total investment: $64.6 billion, representing roughly 13 % of OpenAI.
- SoftBank share reaction: fell up to 7.5 % on the Tokyo exchange after the funding announcement.
Official Statements & Internal Concerns
OpenAI’s prior communications affirmed a plan to allocate over $1.4 trillion toward AI infrastructure. In internal discussions reported by the Wall Street Journal, CFO Sarah Friar warned that insufficient sales growth could jeopardize the company’s ability to fund future computing needs. The report cites “unidentified people familiar with the matter” as the source of these concerns.
Criticism & Investor Worries
Investors expressed unease about the scale of spending on data centers and AI chips, questioning whether the anticipated returns will materialize. The shortfall in user growth and sales, combined with rising competition from Anthropic and Google Gemini, amplified doubts about OpenAI’s capacity to sustain its infrastructure investment trajectory.
What’s Next: Funding and Market Outlook
Analysts anticipate that OpenAI will need to accelerate sales and retain users to justify its ongoing capital commitments. Future financing rounds may hinge on demonstrable revenue growth, while competitive pressures from Anthropic and Google are likely to shape market dynamics in the coming quarters.
