OpenAI is setting its sights on 2026 as the year for “practical adoption” of artificial intelligence, according to a blog post by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar. Highlighting the urgency to bridge the gap between AI capabilities and their everyday applications, Friar emphasized that significant opportunities exist in sectors such as healthcare, science, and enterprise. Improved intelligence in these areas can lead to enhanced outcomes for users.
In her blog, Friar elaborated on OpenAI’s strategy for monetizing its services, like ChatGPT, emphasizing the importance of the computational capacity needed to support these offerings. She noted that OpenAI’s computational power surged from 0.2 gigawatts in 2023 to approximately 1.9 gigawatts in 2025. Correspondingly, the company’s annual revenue run rate skyrocketed from $2 billion in 2023 to over $20 billion last year, showcasing unprecedented growth.
“This is never-before-seen growth at such scale,” Friar wrote, suggesting that greater computational resources could have resulted in quicker customer adoption and revenue generation.
This optimistic outlook comes amidst growing scrutiny of the tech sector’s investments in AI infrastructure, which requires substantial resources to build data centers and secure the necessary energy and components. The commitment of $100 billion from Nvidia to support OpenAI’s endeavors, announced in September, was part of addressing these needs. The agreement aims for OpenAI to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia’s systems — a substantial energy capacity roughly equivalent to powering 8 million U.S. homes.
However, recent comments from Nvidia indicated some uncertainty about whether their agreement would move beyond an announcement stage. Despite this, Friar emphasized the importance of long-term commitments and the understanding that growth is not always linear.
OpenAI has evolved from relying on a single computer provider to securing resources across a diversified ecosystem, giving it the confidence to manage its scaling needs effectively.
Friar suggests that as AI becomes integrated into various fields such as scientific research and financial modeling, new economic models will emerge, further solidifying the role of AI in driving industry transformation.
Additionally, OpenAI recently announced plans to start testing advertisements for some ChatGPT users in America, aligning with its aspirations for a potential public offering this year. “Monetization should feel native to the experience,” Friar asserted, signaling that any added elements must enhance user value.
Amidst this strategic unfolding, the future appears bright for OpenAI, with its robust framework poised to lead in the practical applications of artificial intelligence across diverse sectors.