Sam Altman: How OpenAI Wins, AI Buildout Logic, IPO in 2026?

In this episode of the Big Technology Podcast, Alex Kantrowitz interviews OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about OpenAI's strategies for maintaining its lead in the competitive AI landscape. They discuss the company's response to competitive threats like Gemini 3, the importance of continuous product improvement, and the potential for commoditization of AI models. Altman emphasizes the significance of product development, distribution, and personalization, particularly in enterprise solutions. The conversation explores the future of ChatGPT, the potential of AI-driven interfaces, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI companionships. Altman also shares insights into OpenAI's focus on enterprise growth, the implications of AI in knowledge work, and the company's substantial investments in infrastructure to support scientific discovery and various AI applications. Finally, they touch on OpenAI's financial strategies, including debt financing, and the long-term vision for achieving profitability amidst ongoing compute-intensive training costs, as well as the possibility of an IPO and defining superintelligence.