Leaked presentation: OpenAI expects negative free cash flow of $278B from 2026 to 2030 and projects its revenue will grow from $36B this year to $350B in 2030 (Financial Times)

OpenAI anticipates spending nearly $280 billion in cash from 2026 to 2030, according to a Financial Times report citing a company presentation. This projection underscores the company's financial requirements as it endeavors to secure additional investment. Earlier reports indicate that OpenAI has engaged in discussions with potential investors who might value the company at around $1.2 trillion ahead of a possible listing.

In June, OpenAI submitted a confidential IPO application, but CEO Sam Altman announced on Saturday that the company would not go public in 2026 due to concerns surrounding AI safety. OpenAI projects a negative free cash flow of $278 billion over the five-year span from 2026 to 2030 while intensively investing in the necessary computing capacity to train and operate its AI models, as per the FT.

The AI firm expects its revenue to multiply tenfold during the same period, escalating from $36 billion currently to an estimated $350 billion by 2030, according to the FT. Moreover, OpenAI projects a cumulative revenue of $840 billion by the end of the decade. The company anticipates allocating approximately $856 billion for computing power and infrastructure by the end of 2030, representing its largest expenditure category.

The Financial Times reported that OpenAI secured $122 billion in March at a $852 billion valuation, but the company is set to deplete this cash by 2028. As of the publication time, OpenAI could not be reached for comment outside regular business hours.