OpenAI
US AI research company, creator of ChatGPT; primary demand driver for global AI infrastructure spending.
OpenAI opened its first permanent London office on 13 April, while pausing its planned Cobalt Park data centre ten days later over energy costs and regulation.
Last refreshed: 24 September 2026 · Appears in 7 active topics
With Sora gone and Disney lost, which media partnerships anchor OpenAI's content-industry strategy?
Timeline for OpenAI
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Data Centres: Boom and BacklashBackground
OpenAI is a US AI research company best known for ChatGPT. It develops consumer and business software, while relying on substantial computing capacity to train and operate its models. Its permanent London office, confirmed on 13 April, shows that it recruits and operates internationally even where it does not build training infrastructure.
The company is a Stargate joint-venture partner with SoftBank and Oracle. In April 2026, the US programme had a $500bn headline figure, while Abilene, Texas was partially operating at 1.2 GW of a nominal 10 GW programme.
OpenAI is also a general-purpose AI provider under the EU framework. The EU's 7 May agreement retained the August 2026 compliance Deadline for providers in that category, placing the company within an earlier enforcement timetable than many high-risk system developers.
OpenAI separates offices from compute
On 13 April, OpenAI confirmed a permanent London office with capacity to more than double its British headcount. The move gave the company a larger UK base for recruiting and operating its software business.
On 23 April, OpenAI paused its planned Cobalt Park data centre in North Tyneside, citing regulation and high energy costs. On 27 April, it said UK industrial electricity cost more than four times US and Nordic levels. The split left OpenAI able to expand its London presence while treating UK training compute as uneconomic.
OpenAI delays its market debut
On 9 June, OpenAI filed a draft prospectus targeting a September listing above $1tn. Reported figures put revenue near $2bn a month, against a projected 2026 operating loss near $14bn and no expected positive cash flow until about 2030.
On 25 June, reports said OpenAI was leaning towards a 2027 listing to protect its roughly $1tn valuation. The delay keeps the company dependent on private funding while it finances the computing capacity and product development behind a future flotation.
OpenAI lost Disney's investment
On 26 April, OpenAI discontinued Sora, its consumer video product. On 6 May, Disney confirmed that it would not proceed with a planned $1bn OpenAI investment linked to Sora, and no money changed hands.
On 12 June, Lionsgate extended its relationship with Runway to co-develop short episodic series from its library. The deal did not involve OpenAI, but it showed a rival provider taking a media partnership opportunity after OpenAI withdrew Sora.
OpenAI delays its market debut
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