Sam Altman says OpenAI isn't trying to become 'too big to fail'

In a recent statement, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman clarified that the company is not pursuing government guarantees for its substantial investments in data centers. This comes after CFO Sarah Friar had previously mentioned the possibility of seeking a 'government backstop.' Altman took to X to reaffirm that OpenAI does not want any government bailouts, asserting, "We believe that governments should not pick winners or losers, and that taxpayers should not bail out companies that make bad business decisions." He emphasized that OpenAI is not aiming to become 'too big to fail' and stated, "If we get it wrong, that's on us." He echoed Friar's sentiments regarding AI as a 'national strategic asset' and suggested that it is reasonable for governments to invest in their own data center capabilities. Amidst increasing scrutiny over OpenAI's recent high-profile computing agreements, Altman explained the rationale behind the company's projected $1.4 trillion spending over the next eight years and how they plan to finance this ambitious endeavor. OpenAI forecasts an annualized revenue run rate of $20 billion by the end of this year, with potential growth reaching hundreds of billions by 2030, largely driven by enterprise solutions, consumer devices, and advancements in robotics. Additionally, Altman highlighted the pressing need for infrastructure development, citing the urgency in addressing critical issues such as disease eradication and the pursuit of artificial general intelligence, which aims to achieve AI capabilities comparable to or exceeding human intelligence. OpenAI has not yet responded to inquiries from Business Insider regarding these developments.