OpenAI is building a social network of its own, according to a report by Verge. While the project is in its early stages, the report says there’s an internal prototype focused on ChatGPT’s image generation that contains a social feed. It is not known if OpenAI will be launching it as a standalone app, or integrating it with ChatGPT.
This social network would likely be competing with Elon Musk’s X, and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram. The new app would also allow OpenAI to access real-time data to train its AI models, like X and Meta. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly been privately asking outsiders for feedback about the social network.
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This development could also potentially escalate the conflict between Altman and X-owner Musk, who had been engaged in a legal battle over OpenAI’s transition to being a for-profit company. OpenAI countersued Musk on Wednesday, accusing him of a pattern of harassment and asking a federal judge to block any “further unlawful and unfair action” against the company.
In March, OpenAI launched its latest image-generation tool, the inspiration for the potential social media project, as a way to produce everything from diagrams, infographics and logos to business cards and stock photos. This led to a large number of people using it to create anime-style images, with Altman himself changing his X profile picture to an image generated by this feature. However, this also led to an overload on OpenAI GPUs, and OpenAI ended up having to place limits on the feature.
In April, OpenAI closed what amounts to the largest private tech funding round on record, raising $40 billion at a $300 billion valuation. Netflix is reportedly testing a search function powered by OpenAI that can help customers find movies and shows to watch, according to a latest Bloomberg report.