The parent company of ChatGPT, OpenAI, has started a journey CEO Jack Dorsey once embarked on to build Bluesky. Precisely, OpenAI is currently building its own social network prototype that is modeled after Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).
Already in its early development stage, the OpenAI's social network prototype will focuses on ChatGPT image generation with in-built social feed. According to report, CEO Sam Altman has been privately sharing the platform prototype with outsiders inorder to collect their feedbacks.
This development signals OpenAI's interest in social content distribution. But the uncertainty that remains unclear is that whether the company will release the social platform as a standalone app like X or integrate it as an extension of ChatGPT network.
Although, the aim is to integrate OpenAI's generative AI capabilities—particularly image generation—into a social networking context, allowing users to create and share content like cartoons, headshots, infographics, and more. But viewing from the beneficial aspect of developing a social media platform, the move appears to be driven by a mix of strategic goals such as data acquisition, competitive edge, and user engagement.
Speaking of acquisition of user's data, the company could gain access to vast streams of user-generated content to improve and train its AI systems. On the other hand, the move position OpenAI to rival with other competitors like Meta and X corp, who already leverage their social platforms for AI advancement.
Overall, the social prototype is to explore ways for AI to help users create and share better content, potentially turning ChatGPT into a hub for real-time conversations and media, and also keep users within the OpenAI ecosystem longer.
The timing is significant. Notably, OpenAI’s rival, Elon Musk’s xAI, has already integrated its chatbot Grok directly into X. Meta, too, is pursuing a standalone AI-powered social platform. OpenAI’s project would therefore be entering a competitive but growing niche: AI-first social networks.
To help steer the effort, OpenAI recently brought on Gabor Cselle—co-founder of Pebble, a short-lived social platform aimed at being a safer alternative to X. His background in both social apps and AI makes him a strategic asset to the initiative.
