OpenAI's CEO concedes AI adoption is taking longer than expected as rival Anthropic pulls ahead in quarterly revenue #
Sam Altman has admitted he got the AI timeline wrong, telling podcast host David Senra that he and others in the industry have been 'too ambitious' about how fast the technology would reshape the economy.
His comments come as OpenAI faces mounting pressure from rival Anthropic, with reports suggesting the ChatGPT maker has pushed its IPO to next year while its competitor prepares for a potential public listing as soon as October.
The remarks followed a bruising week for OpenAI, which saw its second-quarter revenue growth described as tepid by investors. For context, the company reported its sales rose 18 per cent quarter over quarter, from $5.7 billion (£4.2 billion) to $6.7 billion (£4.9 billion), while Anthropic more than doubled its quarterly revenue to $11.6 billion (£8.5 billion), according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sam Altman's AI Timeline Admission #
Altman made his remarks on a podcast hosted by David Senra, best known for his Founders Podcast, reflecting on expectations he held shortly after GPT-4 launched in 2023.
'I thought when we got to GPT-4, which was back in 2023, that very quickly after that there was going to be much more disruption, software businesses up for grabs right away, than it turned out to be,' he said.
The OpenAI boss said economic inertia was one reason his expectations had proved too aggressive. 'I think I was wrong about a few things, but one in terms of the speed, the economy just has so much inertia... we've all been too ambitious on timelines. Even with this incredible technology, society and the economy will adapt more slowly.'
He added that people tend to keep buying from the same companies and using familiar tools, a dynamic he described as 'actually a positive in many ways' because he believes it could make the transition to AI smoother and slower.
The admission comes at an awkward moment for OpenAI, however, as investors scrutinise its slowing quarterly growth and widening losses.
Tech commentator Ed Zitron criticised the timing of Altman's remarks on X. 'Really have to say it for Sam - he knows exactly the worst thing to say at the worst time to say it,' Zitron wrote, according to reports, referring to previous comments from Altman that had also drawn criticism.
OpenAI Revenue Growth Trails Anthropic #
The financial backdrop makes Altman's candour particularly notable. OpenAI's revenue rose 18 per cent quarter over quarter to $6.7 billion (£4.9 billion) in the second quarter, while Anthropic's revenue more than doubled to $11.6 billion (£8.5 billion), surpassing OpenAI's quarterly sales for the first time, The Wall Street Journal reported.
OpenAI's operating loss also widened from $9.3 billion (£6.8 billion) in the first quarter to $12.3 billion (£9.0 billion) in the second, according to the report. Anthropic, by contrast, recorded a small operating profit.
The divergence highlights how quickly the AI race has shifted, with Anthropic benefiting significantly from demand for its Claude Code product while OpenAI grapples with slower growth, widening losses and leadership changes.
OpenAI has reportedly pushed its IPO to 2027, while reports suggest Anthropic could go public as soon as October. Neither company's IPO timing should be treated as final until formal filings or announcements are made.
On Stocktwits, retail sentiment was reportedly 'bearish' for OpenAI and 'neutral' for Anthropic. Private-market valuations have also shifted in Anthropic's favour, although such valuations can fluctuate and should not be treated as equivalent to public-market capitalisations.
Since the public launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, billions of dollars have flowed into AI development, changing how businesses use and invest in the technology.
Big Tech has committed further vast sums this year to AI models and the computing infrastructure needed to support them.
However, some investors have grown concerned that heavy AI investment might not deliver the expected returns and that lofty technology valuations tied to expectations for AI growth could come under pressure.
Altman's comments do not amount to an admission that AI development itself has stalled. Rather, he said the technology's adoption across businesses and the broader economy is happening more slowly than he once expected.
For OpenAI, that distinction may matter. But with Anthropic now ahead in quarterly revenue, Altman's reassessment of the industry's timetable comes as investors are increasingly focused on how quickly enormous spending on AI can translate into sustainable growth. © Copyright IBTimes 2026. All rights reserved.