Openai
Leading AI research lab behind GPT and successor models that revolutionized the field with human-like text generation.
Key Highlights
Founded Dec 2015 as a non-profit, transitioned to 'capped-profit' OpenAI Global, LLC in 2019.
Major partnership and $13B+ investment from Microsoft (Azure compute provider).
Led by CEO Sam Altman; experienced significant leadership/board changes (Nov 2023).
Pioneered Generative Pre-trained Transformer models: GPT-1 through GPT-4.1, GPT-4o.
Developed O-series reasoning models (o1, o3, o4-mini) for step-by-step problem solving.
Created DALL-E series for text-to-image generation and Sora for text-to-video.
Launched ChatGPT (Nov 2022), catalyzing widespread generative AI adoption.
Offers API access, custom GPTs, Whisper (speech-to-text), Codex (code-gen, now deprecated API), Operator (AI agent).
Partnerships include Apple (iOS integration), news publishers (content deals), and infrastructure providers.
Developing large-scale supercomputers (e.g., 'Stargate' project with Microsoft, Oracle, SoftBank).
Faces numerous copyright lawsuits over training data (e.g., from NYT, Authors Guild).
Subject to controversies around AI safety, transparency, original non-profit mission, and potential restructuring to a for-profit PBC.