Key Takeaways
- OpenAI projected to lose $74 billion in 2028 while rival Anthropic reaches profitability
- OpenAI committing $1.4 trillion over 8 years on data centers and AI chips
- Company spending 14x more than Anthropic, with Sora 2 model costing $15 million daily
- OpenAI pursuing mass user adoption while Anthropic focuses on high-margin enterprise clients
OpenAI faces a staggering $74 billion loss projected for 2028, the same year its competitor Anthropic is expected to achieve profitability. According to internal documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal, ChatGPT’s creator could burn through cash at unprecedented rates before potentially turning profitable by 2030.
Massive Infrastructure Investment
OpenAI has committed more than $1.4 trillion over the next eight years to build data center infrastructure and secure chips for training advanced AI models. The Wall Street Journal report highlights that in 2028 alone, losses are forecast to hit $74 billion, dwarfing those of industry peers.
The company is expected to spend about 14 times more than Anthropic, driven largely by operational expenses. According to Forbes analysis, the Sora 2 video generation model alone costs roughly $15 million per day, or $5 billion annually.
User Growth vs Financial Sustainability
OpenAI boasts over 1 million enterprise subscribers and more than 7 million seats for its ChatGPT for Work platform. The strategy relies on low-margin consumer tools to build an ecosystem that could eventually yield higher returns.
“It’s also straight-up burning cash with the strategy of just getting people hooked on its ecosystem in the hopes that they can eventually be monetized,” the Gizmodo analysis observes. To mitigate risks, OpenAI is lobbying the US government for financial guarantees on its infrastructure spending.
Anthropic’s Contrasting Approach
Meanwhile, Anthropic, valued at nearly $200 billion after recent fundraising, is projected to break even in 2028. Over 80% of its income comes from more than 300,000 corporate subscribers, prioritizing high-margin enterprise deals over broad consumer adoption.
This focus on reliability and safety has allowed Anthropic to avoid the hype-fueled spending sprees of its rivals. The company’s measured approach emphasizes sustainable growth rather than chasing viral breakthroughs.
