OpenAI
The AI research company behind ChatGPT, GPT-4, DALL-E, and the models powering much of the AI industry.
Definition
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research company founded in 2015, responsible for many of the AI breakthroughs defining the current era. Their products include ChatGPT (consumer AI assistant), GPT-4 (flagship language model), DALL-E (image generation), and Sora (video generation).
Originally a non-profit focused on AI safety, OpenAI has evolved into a capped-profit company with Microsoft as a major investor and technology partner.
Why It Matters
OpenAI's models power not just their own products but a significant portion of the AI industry—from Microsoft Copilot to countless startups. Understanding OpenAI means understanding the foundation of modern AI.
Their research directions and policy decisions shape the entire AI ecosystem's trajectory.
Examples in Practice
A company builds their customer service AI on OpenAI's API, gaining access to GPT-4's capabilities without building AI infrastructure themselves.
Marketers track OpenAI announcements closely, knowing that new model releases often create new opportunities—or disrupt existing AI-powered products.