Openai's 2025 Expenses Surge to $34 Billion Amid Rising Losses

WHO:

Techmeme - OpenAI is the organization involved in the financial figures.

WHAT:

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI lost $38.5 billion in 2025, with a net loss attributable to the company of $38.53 billion.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI's total costs and expenses in 2025 were $34 billion, with $19.18 billion allocated to research and development and $5.73 billion to sales and marketing.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI's liabilities to Microsoft at the end of 2025 were $3.64 billion, with additional accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $21 million.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI had just over $50 billion in assets at the end of 2025, with almost half of that in cash.

Fast Company - OpenAI is pursuing an IPO, although a stock listing date has not been disclosed.

Fast Company - The "State of AI 2026" report from Sensor Tower indicates that ChatGPT's market share fell to 46% in May, down from over 50% in March.

Fast Company - In the United States, Claude's market share increased from 5% in December 2025 to 14% in May.

Fast Company - Sensor Tower projects that global users will spend 36 billion hours on generative AI apps over the first half of 2026, more than double the 17.2 billion hours spent from January to June 2025.

Fast Company - ChatGPT's share of the global AI assistant market has fallen to below 50%, hitting 46% by May.

Fast Company - Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude hold 28% and 10% of the market share, respectively.

Fast Company - Claude's market share in the United States rose from 5% in December 2025 to 14% in May.

Fast Company - ChatGPT became the fastest mobile app to reach one billion users, with 1.11 billion users worldwide.

Fast Company - Sensor Tower projects global users will spend 36 billion hours on generative AI apps over the first half of 2026, more than double the 17.2 billion hours spent from January to June 2025.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI lost around $38.5 billion in 2025, with a net loss attributable to the company of $38.53 billion.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI had $13.07 billion in revenue in 2025.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI's total costs and expenses in 2025 were $34 billion.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI's loss from operations in 2025 was $20.92 billion.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI had liabilities to Microsoft of $3.64 billion at the end of 2025.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI was paid $867 million by SoftBank and $303 million by Microsoft in 2025.

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - OpenAI paid Microsoft $10.59 billion for research and development expenses in 2025.

Financial Times - OpenAI's spending hit $34 billion in 2025.

Financial Times - Of the $34 billion, $19 billion was allocated to research and development.

Financial Times - Nearly $6 billion was spent on sales and marketing.

Reddit ChatGPT Pro - OpenAI's losses increased nearly 8 times in 2025.

WHERE:

Financial Times - The financial figures pertain to OpenAI's operations, though specific locations are not mentioned.

WHEN:

Financial Times - The financial figures are for the year 2025.

WHY:

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At - The significant losses in 2025 were attributed to OpenAI's conversion from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, leading to a $41.55 billion loss due to changes in fair value of convertible interests and warrant liability.

Fast Company - The decline in ChatGPT's market share is partially attributed to OpenAI's deal with the U.S. Department of Defense, which allows the Pentagon to use ChatGPT for "all lawful purposes."

Financial Times - The mounting costs are attributed to model development, infrastructure, and rapid expansion.

HOW:

Financial Times - The financial figures are based on audited financial data.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 20:05 UTC)

OpenAI faced a staggering net loss of $38.53 billion in 2025, largely due to its transition from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, which resulted in a $41.55 billion loss tied to changes in the fair value of convertible interests and warrant liability. The company's total costs and expenses for the year reached $34 billion, with significant investments of $19.18 billion in research and development and $5.73 billion in sales and marketing. By the end of 2025, OpenAI reported over $50 billion in assets, including nearly half of that amount in cash, while its liabilities to Microsoft stood at $3.64 billion, alongside additional accrued expenses and current liabilities totaling $21 million.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 16:24 UTC)

OpenAI is moving forward with plans for an IPO, although they have not yet announced a date for the stock listing. According to the "State of AI 2026" report from Sensor Tower, ChatGPT's market share has dropped to 46% in May, down from over 50% in March, while Claude's market share has risen from 5% in December 2025 to 14% in May. Additionally, Sensor Tower forecasts that global users will spend a staggering 36 billion hours on generative AI apps in the first half of 2026, more than double the 17.2 billion hours recorded during the same period in 2025, with the decline in ChatGPT's share partly linked to OpenAI's agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 14:42 UTC)

ChatGPT's share of the global AI assistant market has dropped to 46%, while Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude now hold 28% and 10% of the market, respectively. Notably, Claude's market share in the United States surged from 5% in December 2025 to 14% by May. Meanwhile, ChatGPT has become the fastest mobile app to reach one billion users, boasting a total of 1.11 billion users worldwide, as projections indicate that global users will spend 36 billion hours on generative AI apps in the first half of 2026.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 08:53 UTC)

OpenAI faced significant financial challenges in 2025, reporting a net loss of approximately $38.53 billion, despite generating $13.07 billion in revenue. The company's total costs and expenses reached $34 billion, leading to an operational loss of $20.92 billion. By the end of the year, OpenAI had liabilities to Microsoft totaling $3.64 billion, while also receiving payments of $867 million from SoftBank and $303 million from Microsoft, and paying Microsoft $10.59 billion for research and development expenses.

(UPDATED June 16, 2026 06:55 UTC)

OpenAI's spending reached a staggering $34 billion in 2025, with $19 billion dedicated to research and development and nearly $6 billion spent on sales and marketing. The organization's losses surged nearly eight times that year, driven by escalating costs related to model development, infrastructure, and rapid expansion. These financial figures come from audited data, highlighting the significant investments OpenAI is making in its operations.