OpenAI, Musk direct target... SNS market entry full-scale
The Conflict Between Altman And Musk Spreading From AI To SNS (Source: Reuters)
OpenAI is preparing to enter the social media market. As reports emerge that they are internally testing an SNS platform based on ChatGPT's image generation function, the conflict between CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk is resurfacing. The possibility has arisen that it could directly compete with X (formerly Twitter), in which Musk holds shares, and the conflict between the two figures is unfolding into a tech platform war.
The American IT specialty media The Verge reported on the 15th (local time), quoting multiple sources, that OpenAI is developing a new SNS platform centered around ChatGPT's image generation function. It is currently in the internal testing phase, and the feed function allowing users to share and communicate about AI-generated images is known to be key. CEO Altman is seeking feedback on the project from external parties, exploring the development direction. Whether the service will be released as a separate application or integrated with existing ChatGPT has not yet been decided.
OpenAI's move to develop SNS is being seen as a response to the recent actions of Meta and Musk. As news spread that Meta is preparing an app using its AI model, Altman left a message on his X account saying, "Well, we might as well make a social app too." The market sees this not just as a reaction but as a declaration of a full-fledged platform competition.
If OpenAI acquires its own SNS, it will secure a structure to train its AI using vast user data like Meta or X. Actually, Musk’s xAI-made chatbot 'Grok' is learning based on the contents of the X platform, and Meta is also training the LLaMA model using user data. Within the movements of AI companies attempting to directly secure data sovereignty, OpenAI's platform initiative is interpreted in the same context.
This project is gaining more attention amid the conflict with Musk. The two have taken different paths since co-founding OpenAI in 2015. Musk has repeatedly taken legal actions since 2023, claiming that OpenAI is focusing on commercialization rather than sticking to its non-profit principles. Particularly in February, he proposed acquiring controlling shares of OpenAI for 97.4 billion dollars, but this was less than one-third of OpenAI's assessed company value.
In response, OpenAI filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Federal Court on the 9th, claiming that Musk is mobilizing all means to harm the company. In this lawsuit, OpenAI argues that Musk’s actions are illegal and unfair and are hindering the company's operations.
Should OpenAI actually launch its SNS platform to the market, not only would it compete with existing SNS giants, but also the conflict surrounding AI and data sovereignty among big tech would be further intensified. The market is focusing on how far the conflict between Altman and Musk will go and what ripples it will cause across the tech industry.