OpenAI’s annualized revenue reached approximately $50 billion by the end of September 2026, significantly below the $70 billion figure previously reported by several media outlets.
According to financial documents reviewed by the Financial Times, the artificial intelligence company recently informed investors that its annualized revenue was approaching $50 billion.
The updated figure represents a difference of roughly $20 billion from earlier estimates. However, the discrepancy appears to stem from differences in revenue calculation methods rather than a decline in OpenAI’s underlying business performance.
OpenAI Revenue Figures Differ From Earlier Reports
Previous media reports suggested that OpenAI’s annualized revenue had reached approximately $70 billion, based on financial information shared with investors.
However, the company’s latest disclosures indicate that the actual reported annualized revenue figure was closer to $50 billion at the end of September.
The substantial difference has raised questions about how investors evaluate the financial performance of leading artificial intelligence companies.
Annualized revenue is commonly used to estimate a company’s yearly revenue based on its current business performance.
Although the metric helps investors assess growth momentum, different calculation methods can produce significantly different results.
OpenAI and Anthropic Use Different Revenue Calculations
A major reason behind the discrepancy involves the different accounting approaches used by OpenAI and its competitor Anthropic.
Anthropic includes revenue generated through cloud distribution partners, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud, when calculating its annualized revenue.
OpenAI, meanwhile, excludes comparable partner-generated revenue from its reported figures.
As a result, directly comparing the two companies without adjusting for these differences can produce misleading conclusions about their relative financial performance.
Investors attempting to establish a consistent comparison between OpenAI and Anthropic reportedly contributed to the higher revenue estimates that circulated in September.
Earlier Estimates Put OpenAI Revenue at $40 Billion
The latest report also follows previous attempts to standardize revenue comparisons across the artificial intelligence industry.
Earlier adjustments to OpenAI’s financial figures resulted in reports suggesting that the company’s annualized revenue had reached approximately $40 billion in August 2026.
Subsequent comparisons using different revenue calculation methods contributed to the substantially higher $70 billion estimate.
However, the Financial Times’ latest findings suggest that OpenAI’s own reported annualized revenue was approaching $50 billion by the end of September.
Despite the confusion surrounding these estimates, OpenAI has informed investors that its revenue increased by more than 70% over the period referenced in its financial disclosures.
The growth highlights continued demand for the company’s artificial intelligence products and services.
AI Revenue Growth Drives Infrastructure Investments
The latest OpenAI revenue figures also highlight the importance of financial transparency as competition intensifies across the artificial intelligence sector.
Annualized revenue has become a closely watched performance indicator for AI developers, investors, and technology companies.
The metric provides insight into commercial demand for artificial intelligence tools while helping businesses evaluate future growth opportunities.
Additionally, revenue expectations play an important role in determining investment requirements for AI infrastructure.
Companies developing advanced artificial intelligence systems must continually assess spending on data centers, computing capacity, and other resources needed to support expanding demand.
Consequently, differences in reported revenue figures can influence investor expectations and long-term infrastructure planning.
OpenAI Revenue Outlook Remains in Focus
The Financial Times report underscores the challenges of comparing financial performance across rapidly expanding AI companies.
Although OpenAI’s annualized revenue of approximately $50 billion is substantially lower than previously reported estimates, the difference primarily reflects how revenue is measured.
The company’s reported growth of more than 70% also points to continued expansion in the commercial artificial intelligence market.
Looking ahead, investors will closely monitor OpenAI’s revenue performance, competition with Anthropic, and the financial demands associated with developing increasingly advanced AI technologies.
For now, the latest disclosure reinforces the importance of consistent financial reporting when evaluating the growth and valuation of major artificial intelligence companies.
