---
title: "OpenAI Misses Key Revenue, User Targets in High-Stakes Sprint Toward IPO - WSJ"
source: "https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openai-misses-key-revenue-user-targets-in-high-stakes-sprint-toward-ipo-94a95273?st=AiGMqm&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink&utm_source=Cautious+Optimism&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=co+daily"
domain: "www.wsj.com"
type: "article"
summarized_at: "2026-04-29"
canonical: "https://tl-dr.cc/s/openai-misses-key-revenue-user-targets-in-high-stakes-s-f3AM"
---

# OpenAI Misses Key Revenue, User Targets in High-Stakes Sprint Toward IPO - WSJ

**Source:** [www.wsj.com](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openai-misses-key-revenue-user-targets-in-high-stakes-sprint-toward-ipo-94a95273?st=AiGMqm&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink&utm_source=Cautious+Optimism&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=co+daily)  
**Summarized:** 2026-04-29  

- OpenAI missed internal targets for user growth and revenue, with ChatGPT failing to reach one billion weekly active users and losing market share to Google Gemini and Anthropic.
- CFO Sarah Friar has expressed concerns about the company's ability to afford its $600 billion in computing commitments if revenue growth doesn't accelerate.
- Board directors are questioning CEO Sam Altman's aggressive data-center spending strategy amid the business slowdown, creating tension ahead of a potential end-of-year IPO.
- OpenAI raised $122 billion but is expected to burn through it in three years, and Friar has flagged that the company lacks internal controls needed for public company standards.
- Leadership challenges loom with the second-in-command on medical leave and Elon Musk's ongoing lawsuit seeking to oust Altman and unwind the for-profit conversion.

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