OpenAI plotting X rival? - TechCentral

OpenAI is working on its own X-like social media network, The Verge reported (paywall) on Tuesday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.

There is an internal prototype focused on ChatGPT’s image generation that has a social feed, the report said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been privately asking outsiders for feedback about the project, which is still in early stages, according to The Verge. It is unclear whether the company plans to release the social network as a separate application or integrate it into ChatGPT, the report said.

The potential move could escalate tensions between Sam Altman and billionaire Elon Musk

The potential move could escalate tensions between Altman and billionaire Elon Musk — the owner of X and an OpenAI co-founder who left the start-up in 2018 before it emerged as a front-runner in the generative artificial intelligence race.

The feud has intensified in recent months. In February, a consortium of investors led by Musk made an unsolicited US$97.4-billion bid for the control of OpenAI, only to be rejected by Altman with a swift “no thank you”.

Musk had sued the ChatGPT maker and Altman last year, alleging they had abandoned OpenAI’s original goal of developing AI for the benefit of humanity — not corporate gain.

‘Ok fine’

OpenAI countersued Musk earlier this month, accusing him of a pattern of harassment and attempting to derail its shift to a for-profit model. The two parties are set to begin a jury trial next year.

An OpenAI social network could also put the company in direct competition with Facebook owner Meta, which is reportedly working on a standalone Meta AI service. In February, Altman responded on X over media reports on Meta’s plans, saying “ok fine maybe we’ll do a social app”.