OpenAI could reportedly launch a social network

OpenAI is in the early stages of developing a social network, The Verge and CNBC reported today.

It’s believed the artificial intelligence provider has already built an internal prototype of the platform. However, sources told The Verge that OpenAI could still opt against entering the social media market.

The prototype reportedly features an interface “focused on ChatGPT’s image generation” tool. Last month, OpenAI released a major update to the tool that boosted its output quality and instruction-following capabilities. The upgrade launched a viral trend of users creating images in the style of a prominent Japanese animation studio.

The reported social network might be an attempt on OpenAI’s part to make money from the popularity of ChatGPT’s free tier among consumers.

The chatbot service reached 400 million weekly active users in mid-February, before the release of the update to its image generation tool. That number may have increased significantly since. Shortly after the update rolled out, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman revealed, more than 1 million new users signed up for ChatGPT in the span of one hour.

If OpenAI manages to popularize its social network among ChatGPT’s users, it could potentially open a new revenue stream by displaying ads to those users. The Verge reported that the current prototype iteration of the social network includes a social feed. Such a feed could theoretically be designed to offer more ad real-estate than the ChatGPT interface.

The reports of OpenAI’s social media ambitions come against the backdrop of Meta Platforms Inc.’s high-profile antitrust trial. If Meta is found to have breached competition rules, it may be required to sell off Instagram. Such a ruling may make it easier for OpenAI to compete with Meta in the social media market.

Given that OpenAI’s reported social network may focus on ChatGPT’s image generation tool, it might be positioned as an Instagram alternative. However, it’s currently unclear exactly how the social network would integrate ChatGPT.

One possibility is that OpenAI will take a similar approach as Elon Musk’s X. The social network previously known as Twitter enables users to access Grok, a chatbot developed by Musk’s AI startup xAI Corp., without leaving the interface. Last month, xAI and X merged in a deal that valued the combined organization at $80 billion.

Altman has reportedly been “asking outsiders” to help test the company’s prototype social network. It’s unclear when the platform might become more broadly available should OpenAI decide to go ahead with its social media push.

The company previously moved into the search market with a tool called SearchGPT. OpenAI briefly offered the search engine as a standalone service last year before integrating it into ChatGPT. Today’s reports didn’t specify whether the company plans to offer its social network as a standalone app or as part of ChatGPT. 

Photo: Unsplash

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