OpenAI, the renowned developer of large language models, is said to be in the process of creating a new social media network, signaling a potential direct competition with Elon Musk’s X and Meta Platforms by Mark Zuckerberg.
Anonymous sources reported to The Verge on April 15 that OpenAI is crafting an “X-like social network” that merges ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities and a social feed. This would presumably enable users to distribute their AI-created images to a wider audience. It remains unclear whether OpenAI plans to launch a separate social media platform or integrate the features into ChatGPT.
OpenAI has ascended to become one of the most influential tech companies globally, thanks to the extraordinary success of its ChatGPT models. Its pioneering position in the AI field enabled it to secure $40 billion funding at a $300 billion valuation, led by SoftBank Group.
A transition into social media – a logical destination for an AI company whose tools facilitate content creation and specialized chatbot development – could escalate the ongoing rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk, former partners. The conflict primarily arises from OpenAI’s commercialization initiatives and Altman’s alleged deviation from the company’s original non-profit mission.
In February, Musk and a consortium of investors proposed a $97.4 billion buyout offer for OpenAI, which Altman reportedly declined, expressing his refusal on social media. Nevertheless, Altman showed interest in purchasing X for $9.74 billion, equating to one-tenth of the suggested OpenAI buyout bid. Musk responded by labeling Altman a “swindler”.
Musk acquired X, previously known as Twitter, in a $44 billion deal in 2022. To this day, the platform remains a vibrant hub for social media interaction within the crypto industry. On March 7, US President Donald Trump used X to convey his welcoming speech for the “first-ever White House Digital Asset Summit” in Washington, DC.
