OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that the company is generating ‘well more’ than #13 billion in annual revenue but he is not pretending that everything is perfect. In a recent interview, Altman acknowledged the fact that despite the explosive growth witnessed by OpenAI, there are still ways left in which the company could ‘screw it up’. Speaking on the Bg2 podcast along with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Altman responded to questions about OpenAI’s massive spending on AI infrastructure and future sustainability. Bg2 podcast host Brad Gerstner, founder of Altimeter Capital, questioned Altman on how the ChatGPT creator could justify $1.4 trillion in long-term AI infrastructure commitments when its revenue is still a fraction of that.“First of all, we’re doing well more revenue than that,” Altman said, pushing back on the $13 billion figure. But he also added, “There are ways we might screw it up,” acknowledging the risks that come with scaling a company at the center of the AI revolution.

Revenue vs reality

The comments made by Altman comes at a time when scrutiny over OpenAI’s financial model is growing. While the company has inked some major deals with Nvidia, Broadcom and Oracle, critics question whether its revenue can keep pace with its ambitions especially as it builds out infrastructure to support the growing powerful models. Altman however, did not offer specifics on how OpenAI may falter, but his candid admission reflects on the high-stakes nature of the company’s trajectory. From regulatory hurdles to competitive pressure and technical challenges, the path to becoming a $100 billion business as Altman has hinted is far from guaranteed.

Confidence with caution

Despite the risks involved, Altman believes that OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft offers a strong foundation and that the company is well-positioned to lead in AI development. Nadella also echoed the same sentiment, saying Microsoft is ‘all in’ on supporting OpenAI’s infrastructure and product roadmap.Despite its rapid revenue growth, OpenAI continues to post significant losses. According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft’s latest earnings included a $4 billion charge that suggests OpenAI lost about $12 billion last quarter. Altman, however, dismissed doubts about OpenAI’s financial model, saying revenue is “growing steeply” and that long-term investments will pay off.He also emphasized that OpenAI’s advances in AI models and potential consumer products could create “enormous value” over time. When asked about OpenAI’s future, Altman said confidently, “We do plan for revenue to grow steeply. Revenue is growing steeply.”