According to informed sources wishing to remain anonymous, OpenAI's revenue for the third quarter of 2026, which ended in September, reached $10 billion for the first time in the company's history. This represents a 50% growth compared to the second quarter and a nearly threefold increase year-over-year. Since OpenAI is not a public company and is not required to disclose quarterly reports, the financial information is not intended for official distribution and became known through channels close to management.

Record Revenue and Growth Momentum

The key driver of this result was high demand for the company's newest generative AI models. Earlier in 2026, OpenAI lagged behind its main competitor Anthropic on several metrics, but the launch of fresh models, price cuts, and a shift in focus toward the AI agents segment — tools enabling clients to automate workflows — allowed the ChatGPT developer to regain momentum. Against this backdrop, the company's business is showing signs of acceleration.

Improved Operating Margin and Annualized Figures

The company presented its financial results to investors during a video conference featuring OpenAI President Greg Brockman, CFO Sarah Friar, and Head of Product Thibault Sotto. According to them, the adjusted operating margin became less negative, improving from −150% in the second quarter to −109% in the third. Additionally, as of the end of September, OpenAI's annualized revenue stood at approximately $50 billion.

Competitive Race with Anthropic

Amid OpenAI's acceleration, its competitor's growth rate began to slow down. At the end of the third quarter, Anthropic's revenue was about $17 billion, with quarter-over-quarter growth dropping to roughly 47%, compared to 140% in the previous three-month period. At the same time, the company emphasizes that OpenAI and Anthropic use different revenue calculation methodologies, making direct comparisons subject to caveats.

Funding and IPO Plans

OpenAI is in the process of finalizing another funding round at a market valuation of about $1.25 trillion; according to a source, $11 billion has already been raised in the current round. The company has postponed its IPO until next year. Meanwhile, Anthropic is targeting a valuation of $1.4 trillion for its public stock offering scheduled for late November 2026.

Methodological Caveats

It is important to note that all figures cited are based on anonymous sources and internal presentations rather than audited public reports. Differences in revenue accounting methods between the two leading generative AI market players further limit the precision of cross-company comparisons. Nevertheless, the overarching picture — OpenAI accelerating and Anthropic slowing down — is documented in multiple independent reports.