OpenAI is prioritising the advancement of ChatGPT over more long-term research, prompting the departure of senior staff as the $500 billion (€423 billion) company adapts to stiff competition from rivals such as Google and Anthropic. The changes at OpenAI mark an important shift for a group where ChatGPT emerged from a research preview in 2022 before igniting the generative AI boom. Led by chief executive Sam Altman, it is evolving from a research lab into one of Silicon Valley’s biggest companies. That means the company must prove to investors it will earn the revenues needed to justify a $500 billion valuation. Over the past year, other projects unrelated to language models have been wound down, one person said.

Source: The Irish Times February 03, 2026 17:46 UTC