{
  "id": 13002535,
  "title": "AI hype meets revenue reality: OpenAI figures fall US$20b short of earlier reports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/ai-hype-meets-revenue-reality-openai-figures-fall-us-20b-short-of",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-09T02:03:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/10/09/ai-hype-meets-revenue-reality-openai-figures-fall-us20b-short-of-earlier-reports/238332"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI is reporting a significant shortfall in annualized revenue, falling about US$20 billion short of earlier estimates, according to the Financial Times. This revelation has raised concerns about the sustainability of the AI business. Documents shared with OpenAI’s financial backers indicate that the company's annualized revenue is closer to US$50 billion as of the end of September. Earlier reports had suggested the figure was closer to US$70 billion based on information provided to investors. Investors closely monitor OpenAI's and Anthropic's annualized revenue as a key indicator of demand for artificial intelligence, influencing decisions on data center investments and the AI-driven stock market rally. The metric, while commonly used, is sometimes criticized as imprecise or misleading due to its extrapolation of a single month's sales across a full year. A source familiar with the matter revealed to CNBC that the initial higher number included gross revenue from OpenAI's partnerships with companies like Nvidia, a measure aimed at facilitating comparison with rival Anthropic. The news has negatively impacted AI-related stocks, with Nvidia down 2.9 percent, SpaceX down 4 percent, and Oracle losing nearly 6 percent. OpenAI is currently in negotiations for fresh private fundraising, which could value the company at around US$1.4 trillion, as reported by the Financial Times. OpenAI had been expected to go public this fall with an initial public offering, but the listing has been postponed. Anthropic is anticipated to list on public markets next month.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON, Oct 9 — OpenAI is bringing in about US$20 billion (RM82 billion) less in annualised revenue than inves...",
  "key_points": [
    "OpenAI's annualized revenue falls about US$20 billion short of earlier estimates.",
    "Earlier reports suggested US$70 billion annualized revenue based on investor info.",
    "AI-related stocks drop as OpenAI negotiates fresh private fundraising."
  ],
  "editors_take": "OpenAI's revised revenue figure dashes expectations of explosive growth, casting doubt on AI sector's financial prospects and influencing investor decisions on data center investments and AI-driven stock market rally.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
        "title": "OpenAI revenue gap report rattles AI stocks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/openai-revenue-gap-report-rattles-ai-stocks",
        "published": "2026-10-09T03:54:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
        "title": "Tech stocks in Asia struggle on AI spending worries, elevated yields",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/tech-stocks-in-asia-struggle-on-ai-spending-worries-elevated-yields",
        "published": "2026-10-09T04:04:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Asia stocks mixed; chipmakers slide on OpenAI revenue concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/asia-stocks-mixed-chipmakers-slide-on-openai-revenue-concerns",
        "published": "2026-10-09T04:08:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "OpenAI reportedly targets $70B annualized revenue by end of 2026",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/openai-reportedly-targets-70b-annualized-revenue-by-end-of-2026",
        "published": "2026-10-09T04:12:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}