OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced on Monday that it is developing a more open generative AI model, marking a significant departure from its long-standing stance on proprietary technology, AFP reported.
The decision comes as OpenAI faces mounting competition from Meta’s Llama models and Chinese rival DeepSeek, both of which champion open-source AI.
For years, OpenAI has defended its closed approach, arguing that restricting access to its AI models prevents misuse by bad actors. Google has also supported this position, warning that open AI systems pose security risks.
However, OpenAI’s stance has been a point of contention, particularly with former investor Elon Musk, who has repeatedly criticised the company for abandoning its open-source roots. Musk has urged OpenAI to “return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was.”
The rise of open AI models has reshaped industry expectations, putting pressure on OpenAI to adapt. Businesses and governments have expressed concerns about relying on closed AI systems that they cannot modify or control, particularly when it comes to data security and customisation.
Companies such as Meta and DeepSeek have capitalised on this demand. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that its Llama models have surpassed one billion downloads, while DeepSeek’s lower-cost R1 model, launched in January, has gained traction for its affordability and flexibility.
In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the need for change. “We’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but other priorities took precedence. Now it feels important to do,” Altman posted on X.
To guide the transition, OpenAI will host a series of developer events, starting in San Francisco and expanding to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The goal is to gather feedback and refine its open AI model to better align with market needs.
The announcement comes as OpenAI continues to experience record growth. Its latest image-generation features in ChatGPT have drawn massive user interest, with Altman claiming that one million users joined within an hour of the feature’s release. He also noted that demand has put a strain on OpenAI’s computing infrastructure.
Amid these changes, OpenAI is reportedly finalising a historic $40 billion funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank Group, marking one of the largest investments in startup history.
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