OpenAI CEO Sam Altman projects USD 20 billion revenue, backs US chip push
Sam Altman is betting big on growth. He told investors OpenAI should pull in about $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of the calendar year, a figure that dwarfs most startup forecasts. At the same time, the company has signed on to Washington’s push for a domestic semiconductor supply chain—a move framed as a way to create jobs and shore up national security.
Yet Altman is careful to distance OpenAI from direct hand‑outs. He’s made it clear the firm hasn’t requested explicit guarantees from the government, and that any public money ought to be spread across the sector rather than funneled to a single player. This stance sets the tone for what follows.
OpenAI, like other tech companies, has joined federal efforts to boost American chip manufacturing, create jobs, and strengthen national security. But Altman says OpenAI hasn't asked for direct government guarantees, and any public funding should support the whole industry, not just one company. OpenAI expects $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of the year OpenAI plans to spend about $1.4 trillion over the next eight years.
Altman says revenue should top $20 billion a year by the end of 2024, and could grow to "hundreds of billions" by 2030. Earlier projections put 2025 revenue at $13 billion, but Altman has already said the real numbers are "well more" than that. For comparison, OpenAI's 2023 revenue reportedly was $1.3 billion.
To hit these targets, OpenAI is expanding into enterprise tools, consumer devices, robotics, and selling access to computing power through its "AI Cloud." Altman says OpenAI needs to invest at this scale to keep up with demand for computing power. He points out that the company is already holding back new features and models because capacity is limited, and he expects demand for AI to surge--especially in science and medicine--even though there's still no evidence that generative AI can deliver real scientific breakthroughs. "Based on the trends we are seeing of how people are using AI and how much of it they would like to use, we believe the risk to OpenAI of not having enough computing power is more significant and more likely than the risk of having too much." Sam Altman Altman pushes back on the idea that OpenAI is indispensable or systemically important.
Will OpenAI actually reach $20 billion in revenue by year‑end? Altman says the goal is within reach, yet no detailed roadmap was shared. The company is pouring money into new data centers while insisting taxpayers won’t foot the bill for any missteps.
He made clear that if a gamble goes sour, the loss stays with OpenAI, not the public. At the same time, Altman urges the government to build its own AI infrastructure—public data centers or a reserve of computing power—so benefits accrue to public institutions. This call aligns with broader federal efforts to boost American chip manufacturing, create jobs, and reinforce national security.
However, OpenAI has not asked for direct guarantees or bailouts, and Altman stresses that any public funding should support the entire industry, not a single firm. Whether the proposed public facilities will materialize, or how they might affect competition, remains uncertain. The balance between private ambition and public support will likely shape the sector’s next phase.
Further Reading
- OpenAI targets $20B revenue run rate amid $1.4T infrastructure bet - TechBuzz
- Sam Altman expects OpenAI to surpass $20B in revenue in 2025, with goal of ‘hundreds of billions’ by 2030 - CTech by Calcalist
- Papers with Code - Latest NLP Research - Papers with Code
- Hugging Face Daily Papers - Hugging Face
- ArXiv CS.CL (Computation and Language) - ArXiv
Common Questions Answered
What revenue target does OpenAI CEO Sam Altman project for the company by the end of the calendar year?
Sam Altman told investors that OpenAI aims to generate about $20 billion in annual revenue by the end of the year. This figure is significantly higher than typical startup forecasts and reflects the company's aggressive growth plans.
How is OpenAI involved in Washington’s push for a domestic semiconductor supply chain?
OpenAI has signed on to federal efforts to boost American chip manufacturing, which is framed as a way to create jobs and strengthen national security. The company’s participation signals support for a domestic semiconductor ecosystem without seeking direct government guarantees.
What stance does Sam Altman take on receiving direct government funding or guarantees for OpenAI?
Altman emphasizes that OpenAI has not asked for explicit government guarantees or hand‑outs, and any public funding should benefit the broader industry rather than a single firm. He insists that any financial risk from OpenAI’s investments will be borne by the company, not taxpayers.
What is the scale of OpenAI’s planned spending on infrastructure over the next eight years?
OpenAI plans to invest roughly $1.4 trillion in new data centers and related infrastructure over the next eight years. This massive outlay is intended to support its rapid growth and the development of advanced AI capabilities.
Why does Sam Altman urge the government to build its own AI infrastructure, according to the article?
Altman calls for public data centers or a reserve of computing power so that the benefits of AI advancements accrue to the public sector. He believes government‑owned infrastructure can ensure broader access and national security without relying on private company subsidies.