Two sources told CNBC that the statements came at a large meeting with staff on Wednesday.
Friar said that the company, which created the AI service ChatGPT, would "become a publicly traded company in 2027," but that an IPO could happen sooner if "business continues to gain momentum."
“The IPO is not the finish line, it’s a milestone - another capital raise,” Friar said, according to the sources, who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly.
OpenAI has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for permission to list its shares on Wall Street. The IPO is expected to be one of the largest to date.
