By 2030, OpenAI Will Have 220 Million Paying Users, But Still Won't Make Money: Reports

OpenAI is projected to have at least 220 million ChatGPT users with paid subscriptions, The Information reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

According to reports, ChatGPT currently has 800 million weekly active users, and The Information noted that as of July, 35 million users were paying for the $20 per month Plus or $200 per month plans. 

OpenAI’s annual revenue, as reported by Reuters, is expected to reach $20 billion by the end of this year. 

Along these lines, a recent update from HSBC’s US service team, as reported by The Financial Times, projected that ChatGPT will reach 3 billion weekly users by 2030. 

And it also estimates that by this year, 10% of these users will be paying customers, totalling 300 million, higher than the number OpenAI projected. 

However, HSBC also states that the company will not be profitable by 2030 and will need at least $207 billion in computing capacity to ensure its growth. 

Given Microsoft's 27% stake in OpenAI, its quarterly filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed how much it loses on its investment. 

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Microsoft’s net income was reduced by $3.1 billion due to losses recognised on its OpenAI investment.

Microsoft has committed $13 billion to OpenAI and has already paid $11.6 billion. 

The investment is treated as an equity stake, and Microsoft records its share of OpenAI’s profits or losses under “other income (expense), net.”

Based on Microsoft’s filings, The Register noted that if Microsoft holds a 27% stake in OpenAI and reported a $3.1 billion loss from that investment in a single quarter, this would imply that OpenAI’s total loss for the quarter would be roughly $11.5 billion.