Recent reports indicate that OpenAI’s actual annual revenue is significantly lower than earlier estimates suggested. While it was previously believed that OpenAI’s annualized revenue was nearing $70 billion, new disclosures to investors reveal the figure is closer to $50 billion. This revision reduces the previously publicized revenue estimate by about $20 billion, casting a new light on the company’s market position.

The initial $70 billion projection had been partly based on comparisons with Anthropic, another AI firm which reported an annual run rate of around $65 billion. However, OpenAI and Anthropic use different methods for calculating these revenues. Notably, Anthropic includes sales made by its cloud partners in its revenue totals, whereas OpenAI excludes these, which helps explain some of the disparity between the figures.

OpenAI’s revenue figures have attracted close scrutiny as the company has raised enormous funding sums, with a $122 billion funding round occurring just in March. Despite generating significant revenue—leaked financials showed about $13 billion in 2025—the company also reported expenditures well above its earnings. In light of these financial dynamics, OpenAI’s previously anticipated initial public offering (IPO) has been delayed to early 2027.

This financial reassessment arrives amidst broader challenges for OpenAI, which continues to justify its high valuations and giant investments in AI development. The company is under pressure to demonstrate robust financial performance to maintain investor confidence, especially as it navigates a competitive market and prepares for its upcoming IPO. The updated revenue data emphasizes the complexities in evaluating AI firms’ economic footprints in an evolving industry.