Amazon walks away from Sam Altman movie before OpenAI IPO

Amazon has withdrawn from distributing the Sam Altman biopic “Artificial” as OpenAI moves closer to a potential public listing.

According to a report from Puck, Amazon has stepped away from the high-profile film project despite continuing discussions with the filmmakers about securing a new distribution partner.

The report said the decision comes as Amazon deepens its business relationship with OpenAI, including a multi-billion-dollar investment commitment tied to future milestones.

The movie centers on OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and also features Tesla and xAI founder Elon Musk. Puck reported that the film does not present either technology executive in an entirely favorable light, a factor that some industry observers believe may have influenced Amazon’s decision.

While the company reportedly expressed confidence in the director’s creative abilities, it has chosen not to move forward as the film’s distributor.

Amazon’s exit has drawn attention because it follows a major cloud computing agreement signed with OpenAI last year. Although the company has not publicly linked the decision to its partnership with the artificial intelligence firm, the timing has fueled discussion across both Hollywood and the technology industry.

OpenAI prepares for a possible stock market debut

Attention around the film arrives as OpenAI continues laying the groundwork for a potential initial public offering.

According to earlier reports, the company recently submitted a confidential draft registration statement to U.S. regulators, allowing it to prepare for a public listing without immediately committing to a launch date.

Reports citing internal discussions said Altman told employees that OpenAI could go public within the next year, though he stressed that the timeline remains flexible and could change depending on market conditions and company priorities.

During those discussions, Altman reportedly described the confidential filing as a strategic step that preserves optionality. By filing early, the company can move quickly if conditions become favorable or delay a listing if remaining private offers more benefits.

Investor interest in OpenAI has increased as artificial intelligence companies attract larger capital inflows and command higher valuations in public markets. The company has remained at the center of that trend through new partnerships, product expansion, and growing enterprise adoption.

Enterprise expansion strengthens OpenAI’s position

Recent commercial agreements have added to the momentum surrounding OpenAI’s business.

As reported by crypto.news earlier this month, OpenAI signed a multi-year agreement with BBVA that will expand ChatGPT Enterprise access from 11,000 employees to the bank’s entire workforce of 120,000 people.

According to OpenAI, the deployment will extend across BBVA’s operations in 25 countries and support AI-based tools for customer service, risk analysis, software development, and internal operations.

OpenAI said the rollout ranks among the largest generative AI deployments in the financial services sector. The company also stated that BBVA will work directly with its product, research, and technology teams as AI tools are integrated into customer-facing and internal systems.

Against that backdrop, Amazon’s decision to leave the Artificial project has landed at a moment when scrutiny of OpenAI, its leadership, and its future as a public company is intensifying. With IPO expectations building and new enterprise deals expanding the company’s reach, interest in Sam Altman and the organization he leads continues to grow well beyond the technology sector.