OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company aims to build the core infrastructure for a future economy driven by artificial intelligence. He noted that OpenAI expects to exceed an annualized revenue run rate of $20 billion by the end of 2025 and plans to invest around $1.4 trillion over the next eight years to expand its computing capacity and meet rising global demand for AI technologies.
OpenAI plans to finance its massive expansion through sustained revenue growth, as well as potential equity and debt funding. The company also aims to generate income by offering computing capacity to other enterprises. In a post on X, CEO Sam Altman said OpenAI expects to surpass a $20 billion annualized revenue run rate by the end of this year and grow to hundreds of billions by 2030, adding that the company is considering infrastructure commitments of around $1.4 trillion over the next eight years.
Altman emphasized that OpenAI has no plans to seek government backing for its data centers, rejecting recent speculation sparked by remarks from the company’s chief financial officer, Sarah Friar. He stated that OpenAI neither has nor wants government guarantees, adding that public funds should not be used to support private companies that make poor business choices or to favor particular industry players.
Altman proposed that governments could develop and manage their own AI infrastructure so that the resulting advantages directly benefit the public. He said it’s possible to envision a scenario where governments purchase large amounts of computing power and decide how to deploy it for public use—rather than supporting private firms.
He added that the only discussions involving government-backed funding have been around semiconductor manufacturing. According to Altman, the intent is to strengthen the U.S. chip supply chain and keep production as domestic as possible, a move that is distinct from financing private data centers.
Responding to questions about OpenAI’s growing size and influence, Altman said that if the company ever makes mistakes it can’t correct, it deserves to fail — allowing others in the industry to carry forward innovation. He emphasized that this is the natural course of capitalism. Altman also explained why OpenAI is investing heavily at this stage instead of expanding slowly, noting that the company is laying the groundwork for an AI-driven future economy. Since large-scale infrastructure projects require years to complete, he said, it’s essential to begin the process early.
Altman explained that OpenAI is choosing to invest heavily now instead of growing slowly because it aims to create the backbone of a future economy driven by artificial intelligence. He pointed out that building such large-scale infrastructure takes years, making early action essential.
He also mentioned that the company is currently facing serious computing limitations, which slow down the release of new models and features. According to Altman, the greater risk lies in not having sufficient computing resources rather than having an excess.
Discussing OpenAI’s long-term vision, Altman said that scaling operations is necessary to unlock advancements in areas like scientific research and healthcare. He added that applying AI to complex global challenges, such as curing life-threatening diseases, can no longer be seen as a far-off goal.
While acknowledging the risks involved, Altman stressed that the success or failure of OpenAI should be determined by the market, not by government intervention. “We intend to build a highly successful company,” he said, “but if we make mistakes, the responsibility is ours.”
