OpenAI challenges backer Microsoft, pitches ChatGPT Enterprise to big firms

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman leads the initiative by recently hosting roadshow-like events in San Francisco, New York, and London
An undated image of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. — LinkedIn
An undated image of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. — LinkedIn

In a strategic move to diversify its income and tap into corporate giants, OpenAI, the research powerhouse behind the popular ChatGPT chatbot, is actively courting Fortune 500 companies.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman himself took the lead, recently hosting roadshow-like events in San Francisco, New York, and London. There, he pitched the enterprise version of ChatGPT alongside other AI tools directly to hundreds of executives.

According to Reuters, this targeted outreach comes despite Microsoft, OpenAI's major financial backer, already offering similar AI services through its own products.

OpenAI's approach hinges on offering unique value propositions to attract corporate clients. They promise direct access to the latest AI models, customisation options to tailor solutions to specific needs, and dedicated support from the OpenAI team.

This personalised approach appears to be resonating. Signups for ChatGPT Enterprise and Team have skyrocketed, jumping from a mere 150,000 in January to over 600,000 currently.

OpenAI's ambitions extend beyond the traditional corporate sphere. Brad Lightcap, the company's COO, has been busy forging connections in Hollywood.

He's been meeting with studio executives to showcase their innovative Sora video creation tool. Sora boasts the ability to generate videos based solely on user-provided text descriptions.

While some studios are excited about exploring its potential applications, concerns linger regarding the source of the video data used to train Sora, the overall reliability of its outputs, and potential copyright issues.