Утечка данных открывает правду о финансовых трудностях OpenAI Translation: Leak of data reveals the truth about OpenAIs financial struggles

OpenAI is still potentially spending more on inference than it earns, according to experts who analyzed documents shared by tech blogger Ed Zitron regarding the company’s financial status.

These documents reveal insights into the AI startup’s income and computing expenses over the last two years.

Reportedly, Microsoft received $493.8 million from OpenAI in 2024, with this amount increasing to $865.8 million during the first three quarters of 2025.

As cited by media outlets, the AI startup allocates 20% of its revenue to the Windows developer as part of an earlier agreement in which the corporation invested over $13 billion in OpenAI. However, this information remains unconfirmed by any official parties.

Calculating precise revenue figures proves difficult, given that Microsoft also shares some of its earnings with OpenAI, returning approximately 20% of profits from its Bing and Azure OpenAI services. According to TechCrunch, this data refers to Microsoft’s net revenue rather than gross, excluding the amounts paid to the AI startup in royalties from Bing and Azure OpenAI.

Based on the available information about the 20% stake, OpenAI is estimated to have earned at least $2.5 billion in 2024, and approximately $4.33 billion during the first three quarters of 2025.

The Information previously reported figures of $4 billion for 2024 and $4.3 billion for the first half of 2025.

In November, Sam Altman stated that OpenAI’s annual revenue «significantly exceeds» $13 billion. By the end of 2025, it could reach over $20 billion, with projections suggesting it might grow to $100 billion by 2027. It is essential to note that this is a forecast rather than a definitive target based on actual figures.

According to Zitron’s data, OpenAI may have spent around $3.8 billion on inference in 2024, with this amount rising to $8.65 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

This is one category of expenses. Another involves the computational resources required for training AI. Although mainly non-monetary, these expenses are covered by credits provided by Microsoft as part of its investment, TechCrunch reports, citing its sources.

Inference costs are primarily monetary.

While the figures are not exhaustive, they indicate that OpenAI might spend more on processing user requests than it generates in revenue.

This scenario fuels ongoing discussions about a potential bubble in the artificial intelligence sector. Journalists at TechCrunch are questioning the situation for other startups, especially if an AI giant like OpenAI plans an IPO with a valuation of a trillion dollars while remaining unprofitable.

It’s worth noting that in August, Altman stated that the artificial intelligence sector is in a bubble.