OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced on Monday that it is developing a more open generative AI model, signaling a major strategic shift, AFP reported.

The move comes as OpenAI faces increasing competition from Chinese rivals DeepSeek and Meta, both of which have championed open-source AI.

Until now, OpenAI has strongly defended its closed, proprietary models, arguing that restricting access to the core technology helps prevent misuse by bad actors. Google has also supported this approach, warning that open AI models pose security risks. 

However, critics—including former OpenAI investor Elon Musk—have accused the company of straying from its original mission. Musk has repeatedly called for OpenAI to “return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was.”

Competitive pressures and market demands

The growing popularity of open AI models has put pressure on OpenAI to reconsider its approach. Many businesses and governments have been hesitant to rely on proprietary AI models they cannot modify, especially when data security is a concern. 

Open-source models, such as Meta’s Llama family and DeepSeek’s lower-cost R1 model, offer organizations greater control by allowing them to download and adapt the AI for their specific needs.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that Llama has surpassed one billion downloads, underscoring the demand for open models. Meanwhile, DeepSeek’s R1 model, launched in January, has gained significant traction by offering a cost-effective alternative.

Recognizing this shift in the market, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the company’s decision to change course. “We’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but other priorities took precedence. Now it feels important to do,” Altman posted on X.

Developer engagement and future plans

To facilitate the transition, OpenAI plans to engage with developers through a series of events. The company will begin gathering feedback in San Francisco before expanding discussions to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

The announcement comes as OpenAI continues to experience rapid growth. Its latest image-generation features in ChatGPT have attracted millions of new users, with Altman claiming that one million users joined within an hour of the feature’s launch. He also noted that the overwhelming demand was straining OpenAI’s GPU infrastructure.

Amid these changes, OpenAI is reportedly finalizing a record-breaking $40 billion funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank Group, marking one of the largest capital raises in startup history.