OpenAI has announced that its chatbot, ChatGPT, now boasts 200 million weekly active users, doubling from the 100 million weekly users reported last November, as first reported by Axios. This surge in user numbers marks significant growth for the company, which launched ChatGPT in 2022.
Alongside this increase, OpenAI noted a doubling in the usage of its Application Programming Interface (API) since the introduction of the GPT-4o mini in July. The GPT-4o mini is a smaller, more cost-effective AI model designed to be less energy-intensive, helping OpenAI expand its reach to a wider range of customers.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, reportedly informed employees earlier this year that the company’s annualized revenue had reached $3.4 billion, significantly up from $1.6 billion at the end of 2023. The revenue increase reflects the rising popularity of AI and the growing adoption of ChatGPT among users and businesses alike. The company has also seen significant traction among Fortune 500 companies, with 92% utilizing OpenAI’s products.
Major Tech Firms Consider Investment in OpenAI
In a separate development, reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that OpenAI is in discussions with tech giants Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft for a new fundraising round. This round is expected to push OpenAI’s valuation above $100 billion.
Microsoft, which has already invested $13 billion in OpenAI since 2019, is anticipated to continue its support. Apple is also looking to incorporate ChatGPT into its upcoming Apple Intelligence initiatives. However, both Microsoft and Apple stepped down from their positions on OpenAI’s board of directors earlier this year following antitrust concerns raised by the European Commission about the companies’ close ties with OpenAI.
Additionally, OpenAI and another AI startup, Anthropic, have entered into agreements with the U.S. government to collaborate on research, testing, and evaluation of their artificial intelligence models. These agreements were confirmed by the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, underscoring the strategic importance of AI technology and its regulation.
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