OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is firmly rejecting government bailouts for private artificial intelligence companies, advocating instead for a free-market approach even as concerns grow about a potential speculative bubble in the sector.
Altman stated that governments should not “pick winners or losers” and that taxpayers should not be responsible for rescuing companies that make poor business decisions or fail in the market. His position aims to prevent public funds from covering private sector risks and to foster competition.
This stance comes amid worries that some AI firms might be inflating their growth figures, creating “inorganic demand” and potentially leading to a market bubble if expectations are not met.
Despite his opposition to bailouts, Altman believes states can play an active role in building national technological infrastructure. He suggested governments could construct and own their own strategic data centers, retaining any revenues generated.
Such infrastructure, Altman argued, could be established more economically by governments, forming a “national strategic reserve of computing capacity.” He stressed, however, that this should focus on sovereign development and security, not directly benefiting private companies.
Altman’s comments contrast with remarks from OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, who had previously mentioned the possibility of governments offering guarantees or preferential financing to the sector. Altman explicitly dismissed this idea, confirming OpenAI is not seeking any state guarantees or bailouts in a crisis.
The debate around potential bailouts has fueled market anxiety, with some analysts drawing parallels to the 2008 financial crisis if AI companies fail to deliver on their technological promises.
OpenAI plans to finance its expansion through its own revenue, increasing computing capacity and selling some of that infrastructure to third parties. The company projects revenues of $20 billion by 2025.
OpenAI also has commitments for up to $1.4 trillion over the next decade. This figure reflects strong market optimism about the adoption of generative AI models.
Altman further suggested that the United States should rebuild its domestic semiconductor supply chain. This would reduce external reliance, particularly on Asian suppliers, and ensure the necessary components for the sector’s expansion.
According to data from October 2025, ChatGPT has 800 million weekly active users, a milestone achieved in 35 months since its launch. Approximately 19% of its users are in the U.S., with 7.9% in India.
The platform anticipates reaching 1 billion total users by the end of this year. OpenAI aims to use these results to reinforce its financial independence and demonstrate the sector’s ability to thrive without government assistance.