OpenAI is reportedly working on its own social media platform. The aim? To take on Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Instagram.
A person familiar with the matter told CNBC that the idea is still in the early stages and came from the viral success of OpenAI’s latest image-generation tool.
A feature that sparked a movement
In March, OpenAI released an advanced image-generation feature that allowed users to create everything from “diagrams, infographics and logos to business cards and stock photos.” The tool can even turn an image into custom artwork or enhance professional headshots.
The feature went viral almost instantly.
Anime-style renderings of users’ photos exploded across platforms. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined in, changing his profile picture on X to one made using the tool.
“While it is super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, our GPUs are melting,” Altman posted in a tweet on X. The company had to temporarily limit access due to high server demand.
A closer look at the prototype
Here’s where it gets more interesting: OpenAI has built an internal prototype that adds a social feed to the image-generation feature inside ChatGPT, according to a report by The Verge.
It’s still unclear whether this will be a standalone app or integrated into the ChatGPT app, which just became the most downloaded app globally last month.
What we do know: Sam Altman has been privately seeking feedback from outsiders about the project. And the timing couldn’t be more strategic—Altman’s social ambitions seem to align with OpenAI’s recent growth moves and rising market influence.
Beyond selfies: a data goldmine
Why does OpenAI want a social network anyway? One big reason: real-time user data.
Having a platform with constant user interaction could help train its AI models, in the same way Meta trains Llama and xAI uses data from X to power Grok.
Think about it—OpenAI’s potential platform could be like TikTok but with AI helping you create viral content. According to someone at another AI lab, “The Grok integration with X has made everyone jealous. Especially how people create viral tweets by getting it to say something stupid.”
Altman vs Musk: it’s getting personal
Altman and Musk aren’t just rivals—they’re locked in a tech world soap opera.
Earlier this year, Musk offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion. Altman replied with the ultimate burn:
“No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
Then came the lawsuits. OpenAI not only rejected Musk’s offer but countersued him, accusing him of malicious PR attacks and “harassing legal claims.”
It even revealed an old Musk email proposing a merger with Tesla, claiming Musk once pushed to control OpenAI’s board, equity, and CEO seat.
A risky but bold expansion
Sure, it’s uncertain if this social network will ever launch. But its existence shows how OpenAI is thinking big—beyond AI tools and into platforms that shape culture.
And let’s be real: This move would put them on a direct collision course with both Meta’s rumored social AI assistant app and Musk’s X.
Will the world embrace an AI-powered social network by OpenAI? Maybe. Maybe not. But with $40 billion in new funding and a $300 billion valuation, they’ve got room to experiment.
“It’s super early but feels inevitable,” one AI researcher said. And with that kind of momentum, the next social media revolution might just be ChatGPT scrolling alongside you.
