OpenAI, under CEO Sam Altman, is rapidly moving beyond AI research into industries including search, browsers, social media, and consumer hardware, aiming to transform daily life.
OpenAI is increasingly positioning itself as a multi-industry disruptor, moving far beyond its original identity as an AI research lab, according to a report from Business Insider Africa. CEO Sam Altman envisions a future where AI reshapes daily life and may even replace him as CEO, while making significant strategic bets across various sectors.
Search: OpenAI competes with Google, the dominant global search engine. “ChatGPT had progressed beyond being like a Google replacement by being capable of handling more complex tasks,” Altman said in June. In October, OpenAI reported that ChatGPT processes 2.5 billion prompts daily, compared to Google’s roughly 14 billion searches per day.
Web Browsers: OpenAI launched ChatGPT Atlas, a web browser built around its chatbot. Altman said, “We think that AI represents a rare once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be about.” Google Chrome remains dominant with 73% market share, while Apple Safari holds 13%, leaving OpenAI facing strong competition from established players and emerging AI-powered browsers such as Perplexity’s Comet.
Social Media: OpenAI entered the social media space with Sora, a TikTok-like app that allows users to generate AI videos from prompts, pets, or objects. The app, powered by the Sora-2 video generation model, quickly gained popularity in the App Store. Leaderboards reward users who create trending content, marking OpenAI’s push into social media against Meta and TikTok.
Consumer Hardware: OpenAI acquired io Products for nearly $6.5 billion, collaborating with legendary iPhone designer Jony Ive. Ive said, “The challenge is to focus. It would be easy if you knew there are three good ones. It’s just not like that.” The company is designing a family of AI-powered devices, carefully selecting products to avoid distraction while building out this new frontier.
Beyond these areas, OpenAI’s ambitions suggest future expansions in healthcare, robotics, and other consumer technologies. The company’s broad strategy reflects its goal of transforming everyday experiences through AI, challenging established tech giants across multiple markets.