Wall Street is licking its chops at the mere prospect of an OpenAI IPO, which could unleash a financial frenzy with little precedent if and when it arrives.

Why it matters: A stock offering — potentially two years away — is driven by necessity. • The company says it will require trillions of dollars to develop its AI systems, a goal that could make an IPO unavoidable.

The big picture: The world's most important AI company going public would signal a new phase of maturity for an industry that didn't exist all that long ago. • Just as the blockbuster IPOs of Facebook and Twitter in the 2010s marked a new era for social media, OpenAI going public would further cement AI's position in the economy.

Driving the news: CEO Sam Altman said Monday that an IPO is the "most likely" option for t

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