In a shocking turn of events, OpenAI, the pioneering artificial intelligence studio responsible for the groundbreaking ChatGPT chatbot, finds itself on the brink of a financial precipice.
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This illustration picture shows the AI (Artificial Intelligence) smartphone app ChatGPT surrounded by other AI App in Vaasa, on June 6, 2023.
Declining Revenue
OpenAI, the renowned creator of the ChatGPT chatbot, is currently facing a significant financial challenge. Reports suggest that running ChatGPT costs the company a staggering $700,000 daily. Despite its impressive capabilities, Interesting Engineering reported that the chatbot hasn't generated enough revenue to cover these costs.
The company has tried to make money from newer versions like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, but success has been elusive. The future of OpenAI and innovative AI services hangs in the balance as it navigates this financial crisis.
OpenAI's user base has been on a steady decline over the past few months, as revealed by recent findings. Data from SimilarWeb indicates a 12 percent decrease in visitors to the ChatGPT website in July 2023 compared to the previous month, dropping from 1.7 billion to 1.5 billion users.
This figure excludes those utilizing OpenAI's APIs, which grant developers access to GPT for integration into their own applications. Despite this, they are encountering competition from various open-source language models, including LLaMA 2, which offers free usage and customization options.
Unlike OpenAI's paid and proprietary versions with restrictions, these open-source alternatives can be tailored to specific use cases and scenarios, posing a significant challenge to the company's offerings.
Also read: Microsoft to Commercialize OpenAI's Tools; All Products to Have AI Features Like ChatGPT
AI Restrictions, Competition
A notable divide has emerged within OpenAI, with CEO and co-founder Sam Altman holding contrasting views from the rest of the AI studio. While OpenAI is striving for profit and the development of advanced GPT versions, Altman is outspoken about the potential risks of unregulated AI, particularly without government oversight.
Altman's warnings emphasize the risks of widespread job displacement and ethical challenges if AI isn't guided by human values. Analytics India Mag reported that the competition presents yet another challenge. Although OpenAI's main competitors are frequently seen as giants like Google and Meta, it's easy to overlook the significance of Musk and his involvement with xAI.
Musk has had a longstanding connection with AI, largely through his association with Tesla. However, the viral success of ChatGPT has propelled Musk to take substantial steps within the AI realm. Most notably, he publicly revealed his plans to develop a rival chatbot, named "TruthGPT," to create a more impartial and reality-grounded alternative to OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Future of OpenAI
The outlook for OpenAI hangs in the balance. While the AI studio has managed to secure a lifeline through a substantial $10 billion investment from Microsoft and other venture capital firms, uncertainties loom.
OpenAI's ambitious target of achieving $200 million in annual revenue by 2023 and setting its sights on a staggering $1 billion by 2024 may be overly optimistic in light of its significant losses.
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