OpenAI is doubling down on getting artificial intelligence into everyday use in 2026, signaling a major shift towards practical application of the technology.
“The priority is closing the gap between what AI now makes possible and how people, companies, and countries are using it day to day,” Sarah Friar, OpenAI’s CFO, wrote in a recent blog post.
The company sees significant opportunities, particularly in healthcare, scientific research, and enterprise solutions, where improved intelligence can directly lead to better results, Friar added.
AI Adoption Surges, But Financial Concerns Linger
Early indicators suggest OpenAI is already capitalizing on these opportunities. Data from Ramp revealed a record surge in business spending on OpenAI models in December, outpacing competitors like Anthropic and Google.
What’s driving OpenAI’s focus on practical AI? The company believes widespread adoption is key to unlocking the full potential of its technology and generating substantial revenue.
Despite the positive momentum, some investors and analysts are expressing caution regarding OpenAI’s substantial financial commitments and its ability to achieve profitability in the coming years. The startup has announced approximately $1.4 trillion in infrastructure deals, including data centers, over the past year.
Advertising as a Potential Revenue Stream
OpenAI is exploring new revenue avenues, including advertising, which the company announced on Friday it would begin testing. CEO Sam Altman previously described advertising as a “last resort,” but the move has been anticipated for months.
Friar addressed concerns about the company’s finances in her blog post, highlighting that revenue growth has aligned with the expansion of its computing capacity. OpenAI’s compute power increased from 0.2 gigawatts in 2023 to roughly 1.9 GW last year. Simultaneously, annualized revenue grew from $2 billion to over $20 billion during the same period, Friar disclosed.
She characterized this growth as “never-before-seen at such scale,” and emphasized the belief that increased computing resources would have accelerated customer adoption and monetization.
Critics Question Financial Strategy
However, this explanation hasn’t fully satisfied all observers. On Monday, tech blogger Paul Kedrosky reacted to Friar’s blog post, stating: “Amusing reading from OpenAI CFO bragging that they are successfully selling dollars for $0.70 in huge volume.”
