OpenAI is building a social network: What we know so far
A New Frontier for OpenAI
OpenAI is venturing into social media by developing an internal prototype that combines ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities with a social feed. This project, still in its early stages, has garnered attention as CEO Sam Altman seeks external feedback. It's yet to be determined whether this platform will launch as a standalone app or integrate into ChatGPT, which recently became the most downloaded app globally.
Intensifying Rivalries
Should OpenAI proceed, it could escalate the existing rivalry between Altman and Elon Musk. Earlier this year, Musk offered to acquire OpenAI for $97.4 billion. Altman's response was pointed:
“No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
This move also positions OpenAI in direct competition with Meta, which is reportedly developing a social feed for its upcoming AI assistant app. In response to these developments, Altman remarked:
“Ok fine maybe we’ll do a social app.
Strategic Implications
Launching a social platform would provide OpenAI with valuable real-time data to enhance its AI models. Competitors like Musk’s xAI and Meta already utilize user data from their platforms to train AI models. An internal source from a rival AI lab commented on the appeal of such integrations:
“The Grok integration with X has made everyone jealous. Especially how people create viral tweets by getting it to say something stupid.”
Looking Ahead
While it's uncertain whether OpenAI's social media project will be publicly launched, its development indicates the company's ambition to expand beyond AI tools into platform-based services. With the tech world watching, OpenAI's next steps could significantly influence the intersection of AI and social media.
