OpenAI’s ChatGPT has made significant waves since its launch in November 2022, transforming into a powerhouse used by over 92% of Fortune 500 companies. The success of ChatGPT has propelled OpenAI to become one of the most highly regarded companies in recent memory. OpenAI’s partnership with Apple for its upcoming generative AI offering, Apple Intelligence, has further solidified its position in the AI race.
In 2024, OpenAI released GPT-4o, its new flagship omni model for ChatGPT. GPT-4o is now the default free model, offering voice and vision capabilities. However, OpenAI faced controversy after allegations that one of its voices, Sky, was mimicking Scarlett Johansson’s voice in the movie “Her.” OpenAI promptly paused the voice amid the allegations.
Internal drama plagued OpenAI in 2024, as the company dissolved its Superalignment team, leading to the sizable exit of co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. Additionally, OpenAI faced multiple copyright infringement lawsuits from newspapers owned by Alden Global Capital, including the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune.
OpenAI made several product updates and releases throughout the year. In July, the company announced a new AI search experience called SearchGPT, aiming to compete with Google by providing timely answers and allowing follow-up questions. OpenAI also unveiled GPT-4o mini, a smaller AI model that outperforms industry-leading models on reasoning tasks.
OpenAI formed partnerships with various organizations in 2024. The company collaborated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory to explore AI’s applications in healthcare and bioscience. OpenAI also partnered with TIME to bring the magazine’s content to ChatGPT and gain access to OpenAI’s technology for developing new audience-based products.
However, OpenAI faced challenges and setbacks throughout the year. ChatGPT experienced two outages in a single day, impacting its availability and reliability. The company also came under scrutiny for potential privacy violations and leaked user information. OpenAI made efforts to address these concerns, including implementing additional safeguards and giving users more control over their data.
Despite these challenges, OpenAI continued to innovate and expand its offerings. The company introduced features such as Read Aloud, allowing ChatGPT to audibly respond to queries, and the ability to add files from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. OpenAI also announced plans to launch a GPT Store, providing developers with a platform to list and monetize their GPT applications.
Looking ahead, OpenAI aims to release GPT-5, a fully multimodal model with support for speech, image, code, and video. The company is also focused on addressing concerns related to data privacy, governance, and responsible AI usage. OpenAI is actively engaging with stakeholders, including partnering with Common Sense Media to develop AI guidelines and education materials.
In conclusion, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has rapidly gained popularity and attracted attention in the AI industry. Despite facing challenges and controversies, OpenAI continues to innovate and expand its offerings, positioning itself as a leader in the field. The company’s partnerships, product updates, and commitment to addressing privacy and governance concerns demonstrate its dedication to responsible AI development.
