ChatGPT parent OpenAI doesn't want to go public as CEO Sam Altman eyes freedom to make 'very strange' decisions

• ChatGPT parent OpenAI doesn't want to go public, according to CEO Sam Altman.
• At an event in Abu Dhabi, he said he wants to retain full control of the AI startup's technology.
• Altman said, "I think the chance that we have to make a very strange decision someday is non-trivial."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he doesn't want the startup behind ChatGPT to go public as he anticipates eventually doing things that may puzzle Wall Street.

At an event in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, he said he wants to hold on to complete control of OpenAI's technology, according to Bloomberg.

"When we develop superintelligence, we're likely to make some decisions that public market investors would view very strangely," Altman said.

And when asked about not having equity in his own company, he replied that he likes being "non-conflicted," adding that "I think the chance that we have to make a very strange decision someday is non-trivial."

OpenAI is likely in no hurry to raise more money in the capital markets anyway after Microsoft announced plans in January to invest $10 billion into the startup after putting in $1 billion in 2019.

The latest investment is estimated to have valued OpenAI at $29 billion, up from about $14 billion in 2021, Semafor reported in January.

Meanwhile, OpenAI has been advancing its AI technology. After introducing ChatGPT in November, the company unveiled the GPT-4 model in March.

At the time, Altman described GPT-4 as an improved model that is "more creative" and "less biased" than earlier versions, and said it was capable of passing the bar exam for lawyers, and that it "could score a 5 on several AP exams."