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OpenAI’s Revenue Estimate Revised Down by $20 Billion
By Drooid · · How we work
OpenAI’s Revised Revenue Estimate
TechCrunch reports that OpenAI recently informed its investors that its annualized revenue is “approaching $50 billion,” a figure roughly $20 billion lower than the $70 billion estimate circulated a little over a week earlier. The earlier estimate had been based on information shared with investors and was used to compare OpenAI’s performance with that of Anthropic.
Context of AI Industry Revenue Reporting
The Financial Times notes that the $70 billion figure stemmed from attempts by OpenAI’s investors to create a direct comparison with Anthropic’s reported run rate. Anthropic’s calculation includes sales made by its cloud partners, whereas OpenAI does not incorporate partner sales in its revenue metric, creating an inherent disparity in how the two companies present annualized revenue.
Financial Figures and Funding
OpenAI’s leaked 2025 financials, disclosed earlier this year, show the company generated approximately $13 billion in revenue but incurred substantially higher expenses. In addition, the firm raised $122 billion during a March funding round, underscoring the scale of capital backing its operations. The disparity between reported revenue and the massive capital inflow has heightened scrutiny of the company’s financial health.
Official Responses and Future Plans
OpenAI has not provided a public comment to TechCrunch regarding the revised revenue figure. The outlet also reports that the company’s anticipated initial public offering, previously rumored for this year, has been postponed to early 2027.
Implications for Investors and Market Position
The downward revision narrows the gap between OpenAI’s revenue and Anthropic’s, potentially affecting investor expectations and competitive positioning within the AI sector. The substantial funding and delayed IPO suggest that OpenAI continues to prioritize long-term development over immediate market valuation, while investors must reassess the company’s profitability trajectory in light of the new revenue estimate.