OpenAI projected to bring in $20bn less in revenue than expected
OpenAI has informed investors that its projected revenue for the year will reach $50bn, which is $20bn lower than the $70bn figure indicated last month. According to The Guardian, the revision stemmed from efforts to provide a direct comparison with rival Anthropic's measurement methods. News of the lower projection contributed to a decline in US tech stocks, including a 1.4% drop in the Nasdaq.

Key points
- OpenAI forecast this year’s revenue at $50bn, down from a previously signaled $70bn.
- The discrepancy arose from trying to align comparison methods with competitor Anthropic.
- The announcement impacted US tech stocks, with the Nasdaq closing down 1.4%.
- OpenAI is reportedly in early-stage talks to raise $30bn in a funding round valuing the company at $1.4tn.
What Happened
OpenAI has revealed that its projected revenue for the year is approximately $50bn, falling $20bn short of the $70bn indicated to investors last month, as reported by The Guardian. The figures are based on sales up to the end of September.
Market Move
Following news of the revenue gap, US tech stocks fell on Thursday, causing the Nasdaq to close down by 1.4%. Individual chip and tech giants also saw declines, with Nvidia falling 2.9%, Oracle down 5.5%, and Micron declining 4.8%.
Why It Moved
The discrepancy emerged as investors attempted to create a direct comparison with Anthropic's revenue metrics. Anthropic includes revenue from cloud partners such as Amazon AWS and Google Cloud, whereas OpenAI previously did not.
Key Numbers
OpenAI projects $50bn in revenue for the year, compared to the previously signaled $70bn. Meanwhile, OpenAI is in early-stage talks to raise $30bn in a funding round that values the enterprise at about $1.4tn.
Why it matters
Annualized revenue projections from leading artificial intelligence entities serve as key indicators for overall market demand in a sector drawing substantial global investments.
What we know
- OpenAI told investors its revenue for the year would reach $50bn, which is $20bn less than the $70bn indicated last month, according to The Guardian.
- The discrepancy arose from attempts by investors to provide a direct comparison with Anthropic's revenue measurement.
- News of the $20bn gap coincided with a 1.4% decline in the Nasdaq on Thursday.
- OpenAI is in early-stage talks to raise $30bn in a funding round valuing the business at roughly $1.4tn.
What remains unclear
- Whether OpenAI's fundraising talks will successfully close at a $1.4tn valuation is uncertain.