OpenAI faces 2026 profitability crunch after $9B cash burn and rising $17B forecast

OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, is under intense pressure in 2026 after burning through about $9 billion last year and projections pointing to a possible $17 billion cash burn this year. Despite reporting more than $20 billion in 2025 revenue and claiming around 800 million weekly users, only a small fraction pay, while the firm is tied to $1.4 trillion in data center commitments. Investors are increasingly focused on costs, monetization and a potential IPO targeted for late 2026 or early 2027, amid growing competition from rivals like Anthropic and shifting market sentiment on AI funding.