OpenAI Reports Annual Revenue Is $20 Billion Lower

OpenAI has reportedly adjusted its financial outlook, informing investors that its annualized revenue is "approaching $50 billion," according to a report from the Financial Times. This figure is $20 billion lower than the $70 billion annualized rate previously reported by various news outlets. The prior, higher estimate apparently originated from calculations by OpenAI's own investors who were attempting to draw a direct comparison between the startup and its chief rival, Anthropic.

The discrepancy highlights the different accounting methods used by major artificial intelligence developers. While Anthropic includes sales generated through its cloud partners in its annualized revenue calculations, OpenAI does not count these partner-driven transactions. This difference in reporting metrics led to the inflated $70 billion projection, which would have put OpenAI on par with Anthropic's reported run rate.

These revised figures arrive as OpenAI faces intense pressure to justify its massive operational expenses and capital raises. The company reportedly secured $122 billion in funding during a single round in March. However, leaked financials for 2025 indicated that while the company expected to bring in approximately $13 billion, its expenditures were significantly higher. Consequently, OpenAI has reportedly delayed its initial public offering, pushing the target date from this year to early 2027.

For AI practitioners and enterprise clients, these financial disclosures signal a potential shift in the commercial landscape. As OpenAI grapples with immense operational costs and a delayed IPO, developers may see changes in API pricing structures or a stronger push toward monetization of its core models. Practitioners must weigh the long-term stability of their platform choices, balancing OpenAI's market-leading technology against the sustainable business models of competitors who calculate and report their revenues differently.