OpenAI Projects $278 Billion Cash Burn Through 2030

OpenAI projects a cumulative negative free cash flow of approximately $278 billion from 2026 through 2030, according to internal financial forecasts reviewed by the Financial Times. The figures, detailed in a company presentation prepared in July for a computing deal, reveal the scale of the artificial intelligence firm's planned infrastructure investment and its reliance on external financing to fund its growth. The projections show that OpenAI's spending on computing power and infrastructure is expected to reach about $856 billion by the end of 2030. This figure represents a significant increase from the roughly $600 billion compute target the company publicly shared with investors in February. The company's revenue is forecast to grow from approximately $36 billion in 2026 to $350 billion annually by 2030, with cumulative revenue over the five-year period projected at around $840 billion. Despite this rapid revenue expansion, the forecasts indicate that expenditures will outpace cash generation, resulting in the substantial negative free cash flow.